After a two week international break the Premiership was back in business on Saturday afternoon as Fulham travelled to St. James' Park to take on Glenn Roeder’s Newcastle United.

Chris Coleman reinforced his squad ahead of Saturday’s fixture by securing the services of Wayne Routledge from Tottenham Hotspur (loan) and keeper Jan Lastuvka from FC Shakhtar Donetsk (loan) before the summer transfer window closed.

The Whites have enjoyed successful trips to St. James' Park in recent years, including a 4-1 romp over the Magpies during the 2004/05 season. Chris Coleman's side featured Zat Knight, replacing the injured Philippe Christanval in the heart of Fulham’s defence. In attack Coleman opted for McBride and John whilst new boy Routledge was named as a substitute.

Roeder’s squad featured summer signings Damien Duff, Obafemi Martins, Antoine Sibierski and Giuseppe Rossi (loan). New boy Martins joined the Magpies from Italian side Internazionale and suffered a dead leg on his debut at Villa Park. However the striker resumed full training on Monday and was back in the starting line up alongside Shola Ameobi.

Referee Chris Foy was in charge of proceedings and Fulham got the game underway.  Fulham immediately charged up field and earned a free-kick 25 yards from goal. Franck Queudrue stepped up but his curling free-kick was well judged by Newcastle keeper Shay Given.

Newcastle’s first chance of the game came after five minutes of play when Ameobi met Emre’s free-kick from the left. Ameobi’s shot was instinctively saved by Antti Niemi and despite claims from Newcastle’s players that the ball had crossed the line the Assistant Referee’s flag had already been raised for offside.

After 12 minutes Damien Duff latched onto Scott Parker’s 40 yard pass on the edge of the Fulham box but Niemi was first to read the Irishman’s pull-back and smothered the ball.

On 17 minutes Damien Duff’s 25 yard shot showed a glimpse of the winger’s pedigree but was of no concern to Antti Niemi. Shola Ameobi, dropping deep off the Newcastle attack, set up new boy Martins for a shot on goal from 25 yards, but once again Niemi had the strike well covered.

Fulham’s best opportunities in the first half came down their right flank with Liam Rosenior producing some accurate crosses from the Newcastle by-line. However Fulham’s strikers could not capitalise on the opportunities as Newcastle’s defence held firm.

Once again Ian Pearce was proving strong in the heart of Fulham’s defence alongside the reinstated Zat Knight. However after 27 minutes Damien Duff’s left footed strike inside the box raised the atmosphere inside St. James' Park. Franck Queudrue eventually cleared the impending threat but the tempo of the game was immediately raised.

After 35 minutes Jimmy Bullard went in for a 50/50 challenge with Scott Parker and Fulham’s star man was left badly injured. Bullard received medical attention immediately and was carefully stretchered off the pitch a few minutes later.

Wayne Routledge replaced the injured Bullard, taking up the right wing berth whilst Michael Brown moved into the centre of midfield alongside Papa Bouba Diop.

Newcastle dominated possession in the final 15 minutes of the first half. In the final minute of injury time Michael Brown’s foul on Emre resulted in a yellow card for the Newcastle man for a shove on Brown following the incident.

In the final seconds of the first half Stephen Carr’s rasping 25 yard shot screamed over the Fulham bar before Referee Foy blew the whistle for half-time.

Newcastle kicked off the second half in front of a crowd of 50,365 and the home side immediately set about attacking down the right hand side with Stephen Carr and Damien Duff linking up well.

After 57 minutes Emre’s left footed cross from the right hand side was met by Scott Parker on the far past. The Newcastle captain’s glancing header found the back of the net and Glenn Roeder’s side were a goal ahead.

Following a clearance from the right hand side of defence after 71 minutes Zat Knight required treatment on his calf but was back on the pitch a few moments later as Fulham looked to find a way back.

Chris Coleman changed the structure of his side with Wayne Routledge moving into a more central attacking position, alongside Collins John and Brian McBride in a 4-3-3 formation. On 75 minutes Newcastle loan signing Rossi replaced Martins in the Newcastle attack but Coleman’s tactical switch was soon paying dividends.

After half an hour of the second period Michael Brown was dispossessed in the middle of the park and Newcastle charged forward. The ball found Charles N’Zogbia on the edge of the box and his left footed shot was well saved by Antti Niemi.

Chris Coleman made his second substitution of the match with Carlos Bocanegra replacing Zat Knight in the heart of Fulham’s defence after 80 minutes.

Fulham’s injury woes deepened a few minutes later when Papa Bouba Diop limped off the pitch with an injured right thigh. The Senegalese international was immediately replaced by Tomasz Radzinski.

Glenn Roeder made a substitution of his own bringing on Nicky Butt for captain Scott Parker.

Fulham continued to search for an equaliser and their persistence paid off after 85 minutes when new boy Wayne Routledge produced a measured cross from the right. US World Cup star Brian McBride was on hand to meet the ball on the far post and his clinical strike put Fulham level.

In the final minutes Fulham looked by far the most dangerous team, producing two fantastic opportunities on goal and new boy Wayne Routledge was the danger man, using his pace to exploit Newcastle’s left flank. Fulham earned a corner after 88 minutes and Brian McBride jumped above his marker to send the ball crashing against the crossbar before substitute Carlos Bocanegra knocked the ball into the back of the net from close range. St. James' Park fell silent as the Fulham players celebrated a 2-1 lead.

In the remaining minutes of the match Newcastle looked for a way back but Fulham’s defence held firm, marshalled by the outstanding Ian Pearce. Fulham once again continued their excellent form at St. James' Park during recent years and Chris Coleman’s side celebrated their first away win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Newcastle.

 

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