Newcastle qualified for the FA Cup fifth round with a morale-boosting 2-0 win against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Newcastle finished runners-up to Manchester United in last season’s Carabao Cup final, with Eddie Howe’s side advancing to the last 16.
Goals from Sean Longstaff and Dan Byrne either side of half-time were enough to see off Fulham. On this night, home fans expressed dissatisfaction with ticket pricing for the match (£40 for adults, £50 for adults). A designated area of the ground.
Fulham fans took to social media to express their anger at the high price. Attendance was 18,960, just short of the capacity of 25,000. It was the Newcastle fans who were causing the most commotion. They won a happy victory on the banks of the Thames.
Longstaff’s fierce goal in the 39th minute put Howe’s team on course for a long-awaited victory against Newcastle, who had suffered a crushing defeat in the Premier League. An instinctive finish from Byrne put the game ahead of Fulham in the 60th minute. They have had a miserable week, losing to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-finals and then losing both of their domestic cup competitions with a below-par performance.
Newcastle started with high intensity and within five minutes there was some scrambling in the Fulham defense and a chance was given to Jacob Murphy in the box, but his shot was saved sharply by Marek Rodak. It was an early warning sign for the hosts, who had to deal with Liverpool’s relentless pressing in midweek, and Newcastle were in a similar mood.
Newcastle continued to test Fulham’s goalkeeper and Rodak made a save from Kieran Trippier’s cross from a short corner after 15 minutes. The ball was scrambled to Anthony Gordon, whose good shot went just wide.
Martin Dubravka was forced into his first save minutes later after some good work from Harry Wilson on Fulham’s right. He picked out Rodrigo Muniz, who spun on the turn and took a low shot. Dubravka successfully deflected the Brazilian’s shot.
The match was played at a fast tempo, with both teams eager to attack and willing to compete for every ball. Anthony Robinson produced a similar performance with a classic sliding tackle on Fabian Schar just minutes after the Swiss centre-back was booked for dragging Muniz down.
Alexander Isak beat Tim Ream with his quick feet before rounding Rodak, but his heavy touch sent the ball out of play. Moments later, Muniz successfully won the ball and took another shot on the turn, but it just missed.
Newcastle took the lead in the 39th minute. Fulham were unable to deal with a corner kick and the ball wavered into the hands of Longstaff, whose first-time shot found the back of the net, sending the 3,800 fans on the road into a frenzy. Murphy raced through just before half-time and finished past Rodak, but the flag was immediately raised and the goal was ruled out for offside.
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Fulham started the second half brightly and had the ball in the net within two minutes of the restart. Willian fired a shot past Dubravka, but Bobby de Cordoba-Reid had already been flagged. Willian replaced Wilson late in the first half as his teammate appeared to have injured his shoulder.
Although Fulham kept up the pressure for the first 10 minutes of the second half, they lacked coordination in the final third and struggled to create any clear-cut chances. Newcastle were happy to sit back and work on the counter-attack. It paid off when the visitors penetrated Fulham’s half and Isak picked up the ball, cut in and fired a shot from 20 yards out, but Rodak kept it.
The pressure Fulham were putting on Howe’s team was released on the hour mark when ex-Fulham player Byrne stabbed home the rebound after Trippier swung in another pinpoint cross. The first header was scored by Sven Botman and saved by Rodak, but Byrne finished in front of the jubilant away fans. Byrne also scored when Newcastle beat Fulham 3-0 at St James’s Park in December.
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Fulham tried to fight back, but Robinson’s low drive from outside the box was comfortable for Dubravka. After Newcastle’s second goal, their efforts were in vain. There was a lull in the game ahead of next Tuesday’s Premier League game against Everton, with Newcastle’s goal rarely threatened. Even as Fulham fans left in droves, Newcastle fans continued to party in the Putney End. Alan Shearer’s familiar face could be seen enjoying the away atmosphere among thousands of people who adore him.
Fulham’s night was summed up when captain Tom Cairney curled a shot wide of the box from inside the box. Meanwhile, it feels like the feel-good factor is returning to Newcastle and Howe’s side look to be back in form ahead of Tuesday’s tricky trip to Villa Park. While Newcastle fans serenaded their team, Marco Silva’s side trudged off the pitch knowing that all that lay ahead of them was the formalities of the rest of the league season.
