The spectre of a once celebrated Serbian centre forward still looms large over Craven Cottage. Aleksandar Mitrovic scored 111 goals in 206 games for Fulham, but the former Newcastle number nine’s departure for Saudi Arabia – and the lack of a replacement – has hindered Marco Silva’s attempts to build on a stellar first season back in the top flight. If a performance could have been designed to show why the Whites badly need a new striker, it would have been this one that saw them exit the FA Cup 74 hours after pushing Liverpool all the way in the League Cup semi-final.
Silva made eight changes from the side that started the second leg on Wednesday night, but Fulham looked far more fluent than Eddie Howe’s horribly out-of-form and injury-hit Newcastle. They played the more progressive football and created the clearer chances, but couldn’t score a goal to reward such enterprise. Newcastle, perhaps a little rusty after a fortnight off, were much more clinical and grew in confidence once Sean Longstaff had lashed home a half-cleared corner six minutes before the break. The ball fell fortunately for the midfielder having hit Bruno Guimaraes arm, but because it was North Shields schemer who scored, the allowed the strike to stand.
There was more pain in the second half for the hosts, who continued to make the running and saw a stunning Willian strike ruled out for offside, but were punished by Dan Burn. The boy from Blyth got his top flight break when Fulham took the gangly centre half, who had been rejected by Newcastle, from Darlington to Motspur Park. Burn worked his way back from being let go by Slavisa Jokanovic in 2016, to return to St. James’ Park after a brilliant Brighton spell and scored his second goal against his old club in six weeks by following up after Marek Rodak had superbly saved Sven Botman’s header from another corner.
You knew it wasn’t going to Fulham’s night when Tom Cairney sliced horribly wide from ten yards out having been teed up by a rampaging Tosin Adarabioyo in stoppage time. There was none of the red-hot atmosphere that had the Cottage bouncing in midweek, with thousands of season-ticket holders opting to stay away in protest at Fulham’s price-gouging. Those who did pay £40 for the privilege probably regretted it. Rodrigo Muniz blazed over in the third minute wasting lovely link up play between Harrison Reed and Harry Wilson, who was forced off before half time with a serious shoulder injury.
The Welsh winger, who had almost single-handedly brought Fulham back into the League Cup tie after coming off the bench on Wednesday, was winning the battle with Burn hands down. After a defensive mix-up gifted Jacob Murphy a great chance to put Newcastle in front, Wilson rolled a cross into the path of Muniz, whose first time strike was superbly saved by Martin Dubravka. The Brazilian then saw another effort deflect wide off Botman, but once Wilson struggled with his shoulder, Newcastle seized the lead.
There was plenty to like about Longstaff’s technique as he found the far corner but the award of the goal enraged Fulham’s players and a seething Silva. It could have been worse for the Whites at half time as Murphy had the ball in the net only for that goal to be ruled out for offside. Andreas Pereira sprinted half the length of the field in added time but lost his composure after reaching the Newcastle area, skewing a left-footed shot wastefully wide.
Fulham’s bright start to the second half, which saw them demand a penalty for handball against Burn, counted for nothing once he doubled the lead for Howe’s charges. Issa Diop, a goalscoring hero three days ago, made a magnificent saving tackle to prevent the pacey Anthony Gordon from making it three before Silva sent on a host of replacements, including Raul Jimenez, who headed over from a Kenny Tete cross after beating Botman in the air.
This was a gritty victory for Newcastle, but another kick in the teeth for Fulham. Silva has taken the proverbial yo-yo club to the relatively gritty heights of mid-table and the latter stages of two cup competitions in two years but his commitment and enterprise will count for little if investment in a small and ageing squad isn’t forthcoming.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Tete, A. Robinson, Diop (Adarabioyo 71), Ream; Reed (Palhinha 71), Lukic; Wilson (Willian 45+1), De Cordova-Reid (Jimenez 71), Pereira (Cairney 65); Muniz. Subs (not used): Benda, Francois, Vinicius.
NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-3-3): Dubravka; Trippier (Krafth 86), Burn, Schar, Botman; Guimaraes, Miley, S. Longstaff; J. Murphy (Livramento 75), Gordon (Ritchie 90+4), Isak. Subs (not used): Karius, Dummett, Hall, A. Murphy, Parkinson, Hernes.
BOOKED: Schar.
GOALS: S. Longstaff (39), Burn (61).
REFEREE: Jared Gillett (Australia).
ATTENDANCE: 18,960.
Apart from the fact we desperately need a new striker, there isn’t too much wrong with our team. To largely control a game, be the better team throughout and yet lose 0-2 is hard to stomach. This feeling is becoming all too familiar. We must get a new striker in, whether on loan or a permanent deal. Muniz and Vinicius should be shown the exit door. We have to do something Tony Khan otherwise we’ll be looking nervously over our shoulder until the season ends and that simply shouldn’t be the case.
MS made his point with his team selection and the Club’s failings. Tonkey doesn’t see or understand, that this Fulham side is too old and very short of usable numbers and this result was all ways on the cards. Silva must take some of the blame for persisting with a way of play which our players can’t perform too. He, however can’t be responsible for ball watching and mix ups (Reid and Tete) between the players. It was a pathetic performance last night and unless Tonkey gets his finger out and helps MS and the team ,it will struggle.