Fulham’s fine winning streak came to a shuddering halt at St. James’ Park this afternoon after Raul Jimenez was sent off midway through the first half. The Mexican striker was dismissed for a reckless challenge on Sean Longstaff and, although Marco Silva’s side held out until half time, Newcastle cruised to a much-needed victory by ruthlessly exploiting their numerical advantage after the interval. Lewis Miley became the Magpies’ youngest-ever Premier League before Miguel Almiron added a second seven minutes later. Fulham’s misery was complete when their former centre back Dan Burn bundled home from close range to make it 3-0.

Eddie Howe had desperately wanted to bounce bounce from his side’s Champions’ League elimination against the in-form Londoners but he found himself adding to an extraordinary injury list. Fabian Schar – passed fit to play – last only fourteen minutes before reinjuring his hamstring, whilst Joelinton also limped off with a similar complaint. The central half had powered a free-kick fractionally wide of the fast post before his substitution, but it was Jamaal Lascalles’ clash with Jimenez that lit the touch paper.

Jimenez was incensed that referee Sam Barrott waved play on after the Newcastle captain had elbowed the former Wolves forward. The striker’s anger was apparent even after he returned as he clattered into Longstaff and saw his yellow card upgraded to red by VAR Michael Salisbury. Silva scribbled countless notes in his notebook and Fulham’s dogged defending somehow got them through to half time, with Bruno Guimaraes blasting over and Anthony Gordon hitting the underside of the bar when well placed.

Fulham still looked a threat on the bench with lovely interchanges between Andreas Pereira and Harry Wilson that led to the Welsh winger surging into the box before pulling his cross back into the heart of the area. Pereira placed a drive just wide, Palhinha testvd Dubravka with a long-range effort before Alex Iowbi spurned a glorious chance – shooting at the goalkeeper when call through on goal.

Longstaff missed a gilt-edeged opportunity to give the Geordies the lead but, after Leno had denied Gordon again, Milley tucked home in an empty net after Guimaraes had carried the ball past a number of would-be tacklers. It became two within seven minutes as Barrott waved play on whilst Rodrigo Muniz lay in a heap after he had been taken out by Lascalles. Newcastle swept down the other end of the field with Gordon finding Callum Wilson, who squared for Almiron to slot home at the back post.

Fulham continued to have a go, with Dubravka saving well from Cairney’s header, but there was always likely to leave themselves open at the back. Burn plundered a third from Bruno Guimarães’ cross when he bundled home after Bernd Leno had parried his initial header. It could easily have been more with Callum Wilson rattling the woodwork in added time. The Whites will need to regroup in time for Tuesday’s League Cup quarter-final at Everton.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-3-3): Dúbravka, Livramento (Ritchie 84), Lascelles, Schär (Krafth 14), Burn (Botman 84); Longstaff, Guimarães, Joelinton (L. Miley 36), Almirón, Wilson, Gordon (Hall 84). Subs (not used): Karius, Gillespie, Dummett, Botman, Alex Murphy.

GOALS: Miley (57), Almiron (64), Burn (82).

FULHAM (4-3-3): Leno; Castagne (Muniz 61), A. Robinson, Tete, Adarabyio; Palhinha (Reed 76), Cairney (Lukic 79), Pereira (Tete 61); Wilson, Iwobi (De Cordova-Reid 77), Jimenez. Subs (not used): Rodak, Ballo-Toure, Willian, Vinicius.

BOOKED: Palhinha, De Cordova-Reid.

SENT OFF: Jimenez.

REFEREE: Sam Barrott (Huddersfield).

ATTENDANCE: 52,055