Report and free match highlights as Bruno Guimaraes nets late winner on his 100th Newcastle appearance to give Toon a 1-0 victory at Fulham; Newcastle boost European hopes to move one point behind sixth-placed Man Utd; Eddie Howe: "It's up there with one of our best wins of the season"
Saturday 6 April 2024 18:43, UK
Bruno Guimaraes hit a late winner to boost Newcastle’s hopes of European football in a 1-0 victory at wasteful Fulham that Toon boss Eddie Howe labelled "one of the best wins of the season".
Guimaraes celebrated his 100th appearance for the club with an 81st-minute goal that moved Howe's side a point behind sixth-placed Manchester United, who play on Sunday at home to Liverpool, live on Sky Sports.
Newcastle had to weather a Fulham first-half storm as Marco Silva's side could not convert any of their 10 shots, while the Toon failed to have a shot on target.
But Newcastle provided a second-half response as Fabian Schar thought he had given the visitors a 75th-minute lead, only for the referee to disallow the goal after a VAR review for a push by Dan Burn on Calvin Bassey in the build-up.
But six minutes later, Newcastle overcame the decision when Guimaraes hammered home for just a fourth away league win of the season.
Newcastle's recovery from a below-par first half to take victory late on led to huge praise from Howe, whose side remain eighth.
He said in his post-match press conference: "Sometimes the game can get away from you very quickly but it was a change of attitude for us that made the difference.
"We are stretched and there were reasons why we weren't at our best in that opening period but an incredible response.
"I think it's up there with one of our best wins of the season because of the circumstances."
Fulham, meanwhile, remain 13th after suffering back-to-back defeats following their midweek loss at Nottingham Forest.
After Tuesday's disappointing home draw against relegation strugglers Everton, Newcastle boss Howe was looking for a response from his side - but did not get one.
Fulham flew out of the traps with Antonee Robinson having their first shot on target in just the second minute.
The Cottagers continued to terrorise a shaky Newcastle backline as Willian fired a shot just wide before Joao Palhinha dragged an effort past the other post.
Andreas Pereira then miscued a free header as the missed chances began to stack up for the wasteful home side.
Newcastle finally had their first effort in the 34th minute as Anthony Gordon whistled a shot just wide of the post. The England international then went close again four minutes later as he hit a shot wide of the other post.
But Gordon's efforts were rare Newcastle attacking moments in a first half which saw the visitors fail to have a shot on target, and they were fortunate to go in at the break level after Fulham did not convert any of their 10 shots.
Newcastle's first shot on target eventually came in the 51st minute through the lively Gordon, who burst down the left before cutting inside to unleash a curling shot which was palmed away by Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
The German's opposite number was then forced into a 60th-minute save as Martin Dubravka denied Pereira.
Newcastle then thought they had gone in front when Schar guided home at the near post from a Gordon cross, but after a lengthy VAR review at the pitchside monitor, referee Sam Allison chalked off the goal for a foul by Burn on Bassey.
But Newcastle provided a response to the disappointment of the disallowed goal as substitute Harvey Barnes delivered a cross which was weakly cleared and Guimaraes was there to fire home to give Newcastle their third win over Fulham this season.
Fulham head coach Marco Silva said in his post-match press conference that Dubravka's first-half injuries allowed Howe to give a team talk to his under-pressure side:
"It was tactical. The first one is clear. They gave feedback for the goalkeeper to go down.
"The referee has to stop the game - there's no way for the game to keep going. It was a tactical decision from them but it is what it is."
Asked how he felt about it: "It's the decision of Eddie and their technical staff. No comments on that."
On the defeat: "We had the chances. We played a very good first half. Just a lack of better finishing in the attack and to put the ball in the net.
"We should have scored one or two goals at least. It is really important to be clinical when you create so many chances.
"Our momentum in the game was high but we didn't score. Newcastle tried to break our momentum with the goalkeeper twice on the grass and players on the grass always trying to break that momentum. They were struggling in that moment.
"Overall, it was a game we clearly deserved more from. The commitment and ambition to win was there but unfortunately we haven't scored from our chances we created."
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe refuted Silva's claim that Dubravka was not injured and said in his post-match press conference:
"Martin was feeling something in his leg and we were saying to go down if you're feeling something. But that gave us a chance to get the group in and it was much needed at that moment in the game."
On his harsh team talk while Dubravka was injured: "Sometimes you have to, and Martin's injury allowed us to regroup and refocus."
On the victory: "Very relieved. It was a very difficult opening 25 minutes. We were second best but we managed to find a way to stay in the game.
"I thought Fulham were very good until their final action but we suffered. It was a mixture of things - we were tired, stretched and we were weren't where needed to be.
"It was an incredible response from the group."
Fulham are back in action on Sunday April 14 as they go to London rivals West Ham in the Premier League; kick-off 2pm.
Newcastle play again on Saturday, hosting Champions League-chasing Tottenham in the Premier League; kick-off 12.30pm.
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