Fulham 2-1 Newcastle
A three part act.
Act one: Fulham in charge.
The Whites start brightly, pass the ball quickly and firmly and are a consistent threat. A goal seems likely and duly arrives. The Newcastle defence gets in a muddle, Cacapa’s stooping headed clearance hits Coloccini’s backside and bounces happily into the path of Johnson, who rams a left footed strike through Given’s legs. Strange that for all our attractive approach play the goal is a result of a bizarre defensive mishap. No matter, Johnson deserves his goal after a very lively start to the game.
Act two: Newcastle take over.
Fulham stop playing and Newcastle take complete control. Either side of half-time Newcastle show themselves to be a decent looking side, with Nicky Butt particularly menacing working around the edge of the Fulham penalty area. At the beginning of the second half Schwarzer is worryingly busy. Newcastle equalise, Shola Ameobi reacting in a goalmouth scramble, thrashing the ball over Schwarzer. Offside perhaps, but a thoroughly deserved equaliser. Newcastle don’t leave it there, pouring forwards and looking like running away with all three points.
Act three: All up for grabs.
Hodgson reacts by bringing on Clint Dempsey for Zoltan Gera. The latter has had a mixed game, some good headers in the Newcastle box, but not featuring enough in the team’s approach play. Simon Davies moves to the left, Dempsey takes over on the right. All of a sudden the game swings back Fulham’s way as Dempsey drifts infield, stabs a through ball into the path of Johnson who, quick as a flash escapes two markers then gets himself tripped. Murphy – after a horrible delay as Newcastle’s players are evacuated from fringes of the penalty area – plants his kick just beyond Shay Given’s dive. Euphoria! How we needed that goal.
The game flies back and forth now, Newcastle bring on Michael Owen and the canny striker finds himself onside eight yards from goal with no Fulham player anywhere near him. Amazingly his volley is woefully directed, a huge escape. Newcastle are driven on by Joey Barton but leave gaps behind them, and both teams now exchange madcap attacks. The rain pelts down, the passing gets ragged, the defensive line gets deeper and deeper. Newcastle throw the kitchen sink at Fulham now, but Paintsil and Hangeland and Hughes and Konchesky are fighting like demons back there, blocking, harrassing, and performing heroics to protect their lead. Danny Murphy – who had another excellent game – is replaced by Chris Baird, who proceeds to have another handy cameo in interrupting several Newcastle moves.
The fourth official signals four minutes of added time and the crowd gasps. The Fulham counter attacks waste valuable moments, but Newcastle launch more desperate attacks but are repelled over and over again. As time runs out they have a free-kick 25 yards out, but Schwarzer hangs on to Barton’s drive and we relax a little. Soon it is over. Exhausting stuff, a terrific display of guts and technique and a well earned win. Bring on Spurs.
Four heroes:
An attacking corner. Zoltan Gera is really good in these situations, but his overall game seems to be lapsing somewhat.
I thought that when Newcastle were attacking relentlessly at the end of the game they were really taking advantage of our right-hand side. I know this has been debated before, but I really feel it was the case today. Jonas Gutierrez was all over John Pantsil, and just kept beating him down that side again and again. I think this is why Roy brought on Dempsey for Gera – Gera was offering Pantsil no protection whatsoever, and Dempsey came on and shored up the right hand side a bit.
But on the whole, I thought we played pretty well and I’m very happy we sneaked the three points. A good result.
I have a hunch that Dempsey may now have done enough to take Gera’s place but it was, in fact, Davies playing on the right ahead of Pantsil. Not Gera. Whe Clint came on Davies moved to the left.
I’ve had the same thought, Tony, it feels like a change is going to happen before the next game.
Very accurate summary, Rich. Nice to see Roy use all three subs;)
These were three big points against one of the many teams that we’ll be fighting with to stay up. I’m encouraged by the fact that we were able to regain the lead after losing control of the match in the 2nd half. In past years, we likely would not have gotten all three points if this had happened and perhaps even lost the match.
The top half of the table feels nice.
Seems like Dempsey has to get a start sooner or later. He came into the game and changed the face of the game pretty quickly.
I like a good minutes silence before a game – the solemnity of the occasion was spoilt somewhat by the sight of a grown man, head bowed, arms clasped in front wearing a badger costume.
Rich, it was good to see Roy execute your sub hypothesis. When tied late, the home team will sub to push for the win, and the away team keeps things the same to hope for the tie.
Well chuffed with the result. Totally agree with others that Gera has had his fair share of chances and has not taken advantage. Clint was full of running and showed some lovely touches. Loving being in top half!
About all that Newcastle attacking in the second half … I must say that I never thought there was anything in the Newcastle front line that worried me. I think H&H and our stalwart Aussie had things pretty much under control.
MAGNIFICENT performance by our captain. I thought it might have been his best game ever in the Black and White.
About Gera, yes he wastes chance after chance, but someone has to point out that he gets himself open and in dangerous places more often than anyone else on the squad. He’s a classic “ghoster,” and those are rare. What to do?
In all my years as a Fulham supporter I’ve learnt to panic whenever the opposition comes anywhere near our penalty area. It will take a good while for that to change. But our back line is doing its level best to speed up that process.
I hope everyone is right about Clint. By my count, he made 3 or 4 dangerous passes, one that lead to the penalty. He gave the ball away once or twice at the end, but I think he stood out when he got in.
Loved the ball he took away and ran all the way to pass to Nevland.