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Substitute Alexander Isak scored an 89th-minute winner after Aleksandar Mitrovic’s penalty for Fulham was disallowed as Newcastle returned to third in the Premier League.
Club record signing Isak, on his first league appearance since September after injury, tapped home from close range at a jubilant St James’ Park.
Mitrovic looked to have given Fulham the lead against his former team, but his spot-kick was ruled out because he accidentally kicked the ball on to his standing foot when he slipped.
It was a dramatic final 30 minutes to a tight game which Newcastle edged without being able to create clear chances.
In the end Isak, who made a promising start to life on Tyneside before his injury, was in the right place to convert strike partner Callum Wilson’s knock-back.
Fulham manager Marco Silva was booked for protesting after the final whistle, with his side unfortunate to see their five-game winning run ended.
Isak delivers for Newcastle
Newcastle are now one point second-placed Manchester City.
They have a five-point buffer over Tottenham as they continue their unexpected push for Champions League qualification, although Spurs will cut it to two if they beat leaders Arsenal later on Sunday.
Sweden international Isak, a £60m signing last summer, scored twice in his first three games before being sidelined by a thigh injury.
Here he was sent on in the 71st minute and only had two touches in the Fulham box, one of which proved pivotal.
Newcastle had hit the post through a Fabian Schar free-kick in the second half but, without midfielder Bruno Guimares – who left the field in tears at half-time because of injury – they had been kept at arm’s length by an impressive Fulham.
Newcastle also registered a fifth successive clean sheet in the Premier League for the first time, and an unbeaten run of 14 games is their joint best in the top flight.
The wave of optimism on Tyneside, boosted further by securing a first cup semi-final in 18 years on Tuesday, shows little sign of dying down.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
- 22PopeBooked at 69mins
- 2Trippier
- 5Schär
- 4Botman
- 33Burn
- 36S Longstaff
- 39Bruno GuimarãesSubstituted forSaint-Maximinat 45′minutes
- 28WillockSubstituted forIsakat 71′minutes
- 24AlmirónSubstituted forMurphyat 85′minutes
- 9WilsonSubstituted forWoodat 90+6′minutes
- 7Joelinton
Substitutes
- 1Dúbravka
- 6Lascelles
- 10Saint-Maximin
- 11Ritchie
- 12Lewis
- 14Isak
- 19Manquillo
- 20Wood
- 23Murphy
Fulham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 17Leno
- 2Tete
- 31DiopSubstituted forAlves Moraisat 90+2′minutes
- 13ReamBooked at 60mins
- 3KurzawaBooked at 48mins
- 26João Palhinha
- 6ReedSubstituted forCairneyat 90+2′minutes
- 20WillianSubstituted forJamesat 77′minutes
- 18PereiraBooked at 63minsSubstituted forTosinat 77′minutes
- 14De Cordova-ReidSubstituted forWilsonat 90+2′minutes
- 9Mitrovic
Substitutes
- 1Rodák
- 4Tosin
- 8Wilson
- 10Cairney
- 11Solomon
- 12Chalobah
- 21James
- 30Alves Morais
- 38Harris
- Referee:
- Robert Jones
- Attendance:
- 52,247
Live Text
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Match ends, Newcastle United 1, Fulham 0.
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Second Half ends, Newcastle United 1, Fulham 0.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Chris Wood replaces Callum Wilson.
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Substitution, Fulham. Harry Wilson replaces Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
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Substitution, Fulham. Tom Cairney replaces Harrison Reed.
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Substitution, Fulham. Carlos VinÃcius replaces Issa Diop.
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Goal! Newcastle United 1, Fulham 0. Alexander Isak (Newcastle United) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum Wilson.
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Attempt blocked. Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Sean Longstaff with a cross.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Jacob Murphy replaces Miguel Almirón.
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Alexander Isak (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Issa Diop (Fulham).
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Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Kenny Tete.
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Offside, Newcastle United. Joelinton tries a through ball, but Callum Wilson is caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Joelinton (Newcastle United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alexander Isak.
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Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Tim Ream (Fulham).
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Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham).
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Substitution, Fulham. Dan James replaces Willian.
Player of the match
IsakAlexander Isak
Newcastle United
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Squad number14Player nameIsak
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Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
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Squad number7Player nameJoelinton
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Squad number5Player nameSchär
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Squad number4Player nameBotman
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Squad number9Player nameWilson
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Squad number33Player nameBurn
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Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães
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Squad number2Player nameTrippier
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Squad number28Player nameWillock
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Squad number22Player namePope
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Squad number10Player nameSaint-Maximin
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Squad number23Player nameMurphy
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Squad number20Player nameWood
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Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff
Fulham
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Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira
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Squad number17Player nameLeno
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Squad number20Player nameWillian
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Squad number9Player nameMitrovic
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Squad number31Player nameDiop
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Squad number26Player nameJoão Palhinha
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Squad number6Player nameReed
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Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid
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Squad number13Player nameReam
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Squad number2Player nameTete
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Squad number3Player nameKurzawa
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Squad number21Player nameJames
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Squad number4Player nameTosin
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Squad number8Player nameWilson
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Squad number30Player nameCarlos VinÃcius
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Squad number10Player nameCairney
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