Newcastle United 1-3 Fulham
Well that’s not very nice!
Just over 50,000 of us were invited to an Anniversary party today only to find that the entertainment that had been booked just didn’t turn up.
It was the worst performance of the season, in turn allowing those just below us to close the gap once more on what was a pretty stark weekend of those following the black and whites.
STARTING XI: Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark (Gamez, 64), Dummett, Shelvey, Colback, Atsu, Diame (Murphy, 61), Ritchie, Gayle (Gouffran, 74)
With Rafa celebrating in year in post, to the day, and with three cracking away performances in the bag , it was hoped that Newcastle would finally push on at home and pull away again at the top of the league.
Instead Rafa would be left scratching his head It must have been like watching something else’s team play today.
Newcastle were outplayed form the start with Fulham continuing their recent great run of form. And it would take the visitors just 15 minutes to break the deadlock. The warning signs had been there, with Newcastle midfield having left Tom Cairney with far too much room to play in in those first dozen minutes or so. No surprise then when the Fulham number 10 picked the ball up 30 yards out, unmarked, and curled the ball into Darlow’s top corner.
And things would only get worse for Rafa’s men as the game wore on. Counter attacking intent grew into ‘throw men forward’ as the second, and then third goals went in from Fulham. Both from teenage fullback Ryan Sessegnon and all before an hour gone.
Newcastle would get one back from Murphy, again, but it would prove to be too little too late and in all fairness it would have been a travesty had Fulham not left SJP with all 3 points.
Outplayed, outfought and outclassed.
Food for thought.