Former Newcastle striker Louis Saha ended his Premiership goal drought in style as Fulham extended the Magpies’ long wait for a league win in London with a 3-1 win at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
The French forward, who scored twice in twelve appearances during a loan spell at St. James’ Park three years ago, opened the scoring with a sensational 25-yard strike in the first half, which was his first league goal in three months. Sylvain Legwinski continued his fine goalscoring form by smashing in a second with less than half an hour on the clock and, although Gary Speed pulled a goal back, Barry Hayles added a third to extend Newcastle’s winless run in the capital to 27 matches. A miserable return to Craven Cottage for Bobby Robson was compounded when Alan Shearer saw his late spot-kick superbly saved by Edwin van der Sar.
Saha, sporting bleached blond locks, looked up for a meeting with his former employers all afternoon. He had buzzed around the penalty area menacingly in the early stages but left his mark from much further out, curling a majestic finish around Shay Given into the top corner after swapping passes with Legwinski. The former Monaco midfielder then went for provider to finisher thumping in a terrific strike of his own having been played through by the excellent Steed Malbranque.
Suddenly, the hosts looked irresistible going forward. Only great Given saves prevented Malbranque and Hayles from increasing Fulham’s lead. Newcastle were fortunate to still in the contest and made the most of that by securing a route back into the game through a superb Speed header from Aaron Hughes’ hanging cross midway through the second half. But the Geordies’ hope was effectively extinguished six minutes later when Hayles headed in a Malbranque corner to restore Fulham’s two-goal cushion.
There were a few nervy moments for the home fans after Alain Goma was harshly deemed to have tripped Laurent Robert in the box. But Jean Tigana’s decision to pay £7m for van der Sar this summer upon Fulham’s return to the top flight meant even a Shearer penalty is no longer a foregone conclusion. The Newcastle striker, usually so deadly from twelve yards, held his head after a firmly struck spot-kick was pushed away to safety by the diving Dutch goalkeeper.
FULHAM (4-4-2): van der Sar; Finnan, Brevett, Melville, Goma; Davis, Collins (Clark 67), Legwinski, Malbranque (Goldbaek 88); Saha, Hayles. Subs (not used): Taylor, Ouaddoh, Stolcers.
GOALS: Saha (19), Legwinski (28), Hayles (70).
NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): Given; Hughes, Elliott, Dabizas (Distin 75), O’Brien; Speed, Lee (Ameobi 90), Solano (Lua-Lua 77), Robert; Shearer, Bellamy. Subs (not used): Harper, Acuna.
BOOKED: Elliott, Dabizas, Robert, O’Brien, Lee, Shearer.
GOAL: Speed (64).
REFEREE: Eddie Wolstenholme (Lancashire).
REFEREE: 21,159.
