Newcastle United were freed from Premier League frustrations, winning 2-1 against Fulham.
They took the momentum from their midweek European encounter into a strong start in this clash, earning the lead through a neat finish from Jacob Murphy. However, the Cottagers continue to look competitive and pushed the pendulum towards another finely balanced affair by the end of the half.
With a couple of changes in the attacking unit, the guests got more momentum after the break, and **Sasa Lukic**levelled the scoreline. But the second half ended as the first began, and the club captain for the hosts, Bruno Guimaraes, gave the fans what they wanted as the Toon rallied to a triumph.
Story of the Match
Eddie Howe made minimal changes from his lineup in a 3-0 win over **Benfica**in the Champions League. **Dan Burn**and Kieran Trippier took the fullback spots in the absence of Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento. Lewis Miley maintained a midfield spot in place of the ill Sandro Tonali. **Jacob Murphy**came in for **Harvey Barnes**in a front three with Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon.
Marco Silva has struggled with injuries and illness, but the visitors welcomed back **Sasa Lukic**into their midfield unit with Sander Berge for this battle. Kenny Tete was also present in the role of the right back for the first time in over a month while Issa Diop deputised for the injured Joachim Andersen. **Emile Smith Rowe**replaced Joshua King and Adama Traore was the right winger.
Gordon picked up from where he left off in midweek with a goal and an assist against Benfica. He went directly at his man, drawing a foul and earning a free kick. The ball dropped loose inside the penalty area for Woltemade, who stuck a boot at the ball and whacked the post after four minutes.
Moments later, Murphy broke into the box from the inside right channel as the Toon went through their typical rotations on that side of the field, and he nearly caught out [**Bernd Leno](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/10/19/premier-league/1200950-fulham-1-3-aston-villa-ollie-watkins-strikes-as-villa-continue-good-form.html)**at the near post.
After that positive start, **Fulham**to get a feel for the ball. But as St. James’ Park started to settle, the game breaking goal occurred. Murphy robbed the ball from the dawdling Calvin Bassey, drove to the edge of the danger zone, and slapped a strike into the far post, reignited the Geordie crowd.
However, by this point, the game was more level. [**Bruno Guimaraes](https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2025/03/11/premier-league/1216490-west-ham-0-1-newcastle-guimaraes-the-difference-maker-against-toothless-west-ham.html)**and Miley connected well to quickly transition the ball through the midfield to Gordon, but attacks were not coming to completion.
Meanwhile, **Fulham**threatened on occasion: **Sander Berge**forced an uncomfortable save from long range for Nick Pope before Adama thrashed an effort wide of the target. Then, Raul Jimenez had a free header from a set-piece, failing to hit the back of the net. The wheels were beginning to turn.
Newcastle might have gone two goals to the food in the 39th minute. Gordon caught the Cottagers out of shape in transition and he slipped a through ball to Murphy. The right winger was 1 v 1 against Leno and in a much better position to try and score, but the goalkeeper was equal to his attempt.
Still in the game at half time, Silva sensed it was time to make a substitution. He pulled off Smith Rowe, put on club record signing **Kevin**as a left winger, and Iwobi shifted into attacking midfield.
His impact was almost immediate. **Kevin**combined with Jimenez to break into the box, but he overcooked the weight of his cross, so the ball bounced harmlessly out of play. Even though the Cottagers continued to push, it looked like the fine margins would go against them once more.
**Kevin**was not done. He dug out a dangerous delivery to the far post, where Jimenez got himself free from Burn, and Pope tipped his strike onto the frame of the goal. However, Lukic leapt above Sven Botman, burying the ball with his head in the back of the net to mark his return to the starting eleven.
Botman required treatment for the aerial clash and he made way for Fabian Schar. In a triple substitution, Tonali took the place of Miley, and Barnes swapped in for Murphy on the right wing.
The hosts nearly responded straightaway. Woltemade took control of the ball from a quick throw-in, then juggled it in the air and set Gordon. The winger clipped an equally pinpoint cross into the area, and Guimaraes crashed the final third, but his header failed to test Leno, letting **Fulham**off the hook.
Not to be upstaged, Jimenez juggled the ball himself to set up an overhead kick that Pope smothered before Guimaraes flashed another shot wide of the mark. The game was getting stretched, and both men in the dugout decided that their teams needed fresh legs to maximise the final phase of the match.
King, who had started every Premier League fixture for Fulham before this trip, stepped in for Adama. For Newcastle, Gordon gave way to Anthony Elanga, and Barnes shifted to the left flank.
The final product from the ever electric Elanga was not always the best, but the momentum swung back in favour of the Toon. Elanga saw a shot blocked inside the box, **Joelinton**crashed a far post header into the side netting, and Leno had to scramble at superbly angled volley from Tonali.
Woltemade would not extend his run of goals at home, but William Osula is a fine deputy, and he led a crucial charge on the counter at the death. The striker saw Leno lunge successfully at his effort, but Guimaraes got a foot on the rebound, and St. James’ Park went into raptures at the go-ahead goal.
Jonah Kusi-Asare made his Premier League debut in a final roll of the dice from **Fulham**in injury time, but the Toon held onto their advantage to wrap up their second league victory of the month.
**Sandro Tonali**could have been in contention for this award if he had played a larger part in this game, but his midfield accomplice capped off his influential display with the key contribution.
The club captain has evolved in his responsibilities on the field, playing higher up the field as a right sided eight ahead of the Italian. At times, he dropped deep closer to Miley, and the pair produced a lot of progressive work in the middle of the park in the first half that was not exploited to full potential.
Once legs got weary, he kept going, arriving in the final third for opportunities and showing his eye for delicate passes to sustain attacks. In the end, the goal was the icing on the cake for a player who leads by example and has helped to bring back a good feeling in the league for an ambitious outfit.