Newcastle United are unbeaten no more, as Fulham played the visitors out of Craven Cottage with a 3-1 win on Saturday.
Raul Jimenez, Emile Smith Rowe, and Reiss Nelson scored the goals for Fulham, while Harvey Barnes continued his hot streak with Newcastle’s goal.
The Magpies came back to beat Wolves in Week 4, improving to 3W-1D in Premier League play and could’ve gone atop the table for at least a day with a win.
Fulham have played well since a Week 1 loss at Manchester United, and get a second win to show for it. The Cottagers are into the top half of the table.
Something’s not right at error-prone Newcastle
The Magpies entered Saturday as an unbeaten Premier League team, and Harvey Barnes said during the week that it was a good sign that their 3W-1D record came despite performances being not where they needed to be for a Champions League push.
Well, that record feels a bit more appropriate now after a loss to Fulham that was both well-won by the hosts and well-fed by the visitors. The defending was miserable on Fulham’s first goal — well-taken by Raul Jimenez — and then Nick Pope made a very poor error on another defense-optional half-chance conceded by Newcastle. By the time Bruno Guimaraes gifted Reiss Nelson the punctuating third Fulham goal, Harvey Barnes concession was a memory. The Magpies need Sven Botman back to be sure, but they also need a heaping dose of humility — Premier League games aren’t easy because you’ve won a little in the past.
Fulham vs Newcastle player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Fulham vs Newcastle player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Fulham vs Newcastle player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Newcastle are off to AFC Wimbledon for a Tuesday tie in the League Cup, then host Manchester City at 7:30am ET Saturday.
Fulham visit Nottingham Forest later that morning at 10am.
How to watch Fulham vs Newcastle live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: Craven Cottage
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Fulham vs Newcastle live updates — By Nick Mendola
Fulham vs Newcastle final score — 3-1
Raul Jimenez 5', Emile Smith Rowe 23', Harvey Barnes 46', Reiss Nelson 90+2'
Reiss Nelson puts it to bed — Fulham 3-1 Newcastle (90+2')
Bruno Guimaraes with a death pass inside his own box that is deflected to Reiss Nelson, point-blank.
Pope doesn’t have a chance. Goodnight to Newcastle’s unbeaten season.
Fulham’s Leno let off by Fabian Schar
Bernd Leno gives the ball away!
Fabian Schar is point-blank and he has Alexander Isak, but instead belts into the side of the net.
How is this not 2-2?
Harvey Barnes goal! Fulham 2-1 Newcastle (46th minute)
It doesn’t take long for a Magpies response out of halftime.
Alexander Isak slips Barnes into the left side of the box and he first across Bernd Leno and home for 2-1.
Halftime — Fulham 2-0 Newcastle
Newcastle have been passive at the back and Alexander Isak is clearly not at his best up top. It’s likely he would’ve been rested another week had the Magpies access to Callum Wilson. Curious to see whether William Osula gets a chance to change the game from the CF position or if Newcastle views a 70% Isak as the better option.
Fulham look great, and they are set up in a way that will make it tough for an opponent to find two goals by stretching them. Fulham lead in shots (13-4), xG (1.29-0.10), and fouls committed (10-4). Marco Silva’s side arrived up for this, while Newcastle is in a bit of disarray. Sandro Tonali time?
Emile Smith Rowe goal! Fulham 2-0 Newcastle (23rd minute)
Smith Rowe drives play and works a clever 1-2 with Alex Iwobi, then knifing a shot with the outside of his boot toward Pope.
It’s so hopeful, but Pope makes a mess of it. 2-0 Fulham. Oof.
Raul Jimenez goal! Fulham 1-0 Newcastle (5th minute)
A minute after Joelinton has a goal denied by Joe Willock’s offside in the build-up, Fulham take the lead.
Adama Traore crosses toward the spot and Raul Jimenez chests it down turns and fires past Nick Pope.
It’s very good stuff, the Mexican’s 49th Premier League goal.
1-0 to the Cottagers very early.
Fulham vs Newcastle team news
As the guy who made the original prediction, I’d like to note that I did not expect notoriously stubborn/loyal Eddie Howe to ring in the changes. That’s good news for Newcastle.
The Kieran Trippier vs Antonee Robinson battle on one side could really shake this game up if Trippier is back in form. And Joe Willock gives Newcastle a better chance to unlock the attack. The key question regards the health of Alexander Isak. He was questionable with a foot injury but if he can put in 60 minutes near his best, I’d flip my Fulham 2-1 prediction to Newcastle 2-1. Should be a cracker, as they say.
Fulham lineup
Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Lukic, Pereira, Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Jimenez
Newcastle lineup
Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Kelly, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Willock, Gordon, Barnes, Isak.
Fulham focus, team news
New signing Reiss Nelson scored in the League Cup tie, and all four of Fulham’s Premier League goals have come from attack-minded players: Adama Traore, Emile Smith Rowe, Raul Jimenez, and Alex Iwobi. The Cottagers might be due for a explosive performance.
OUT: Carlos Vinicius (calf)
Newcastle focus, team news
The Magpies were out-performed in expected goals in their first three games, then nicked Wolves by 0.01 xG. Eddie Howe’s men are being out-scored 3-2 before the hour mark and have a combined positive score line of 4-0 after the 60th minute, as reinforcements have tended to be better than the Starting XI.
OUT: Sven Botman (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Lewis Miley (ankle), Callum Wilson (back)
Fulham vs Newcastle prediction
Every unbeaten run ends some time, and at some point Newcastle will not be able to come back from a substandard start. The early goings will be key here, including the team selection. Sven Botman and Callum Wilson are big misses given the state of the team, and an Isak absence might be too much. Fulham 2-1 Newcastle.
