Newcastle missed the chance to move into the top four as Fulham came from behind to win 2-1 at St James’ Park thanks to substitute Rodrigo Muniz’s late goal.
Newcastle were in control of the game at half-time through Jacob Murphy’s 37th-minute close-range opener as Fulham failed to have a shot on target.
But the visitors were a completely different team in the second half as Raul Jimenez deservedly equalised in the 61st minute before his replacement Muniz deftly flicked home an 82nd-minute winner from a free-kick to stun Eddie Howe’s side.
Wednesday 5th February 7:00pm
Kick off 8:00pm
Newcastle mustered only one shot on target in the second half to suffer back-to-back home defeats and they will need to be much improved for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal, live on Sky Sports, if they are to make their 2-0 first-leg lead count.
It had looked to be a comfortable afternoon for Newcastle as they dominated the first half with Fabian Schar denied by Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno and Sandro Tonali hitting the bar before Murphy smashed home.
But Marco Silva’s half-time team talk worked wonders as the Cottagers were immediately on the front foot, registering two shots on target in the first two minutes of the second half, with Jimenez eventually levelling first time.
Alexander Isak came close to restoring Newcastle’s lead as he hit the bar in the 75th minute, but just seven minutes later Fulham completed the turnaround as Muniz poked fellow substitute Andreas Pereira’s free-kick past Martin Dubravka at his near post.
The late victory gave Fulham their first league win at St James’ Park in 16 years to lift them up to ninth, with Newcastle’s defeat leaving them fifth.
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