Fulham, desperate to bounce back from a damaging defeat at Nottingham Forest, did everything but score on a frustrating spring afternoon afternoon at Craven Cottage. Their approach was adventurous from the off, penning an injury-plagued Newcastle United back in their own half for what felt like most of the first twenty minutes, but countless chances came and went. Willian, Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Muniz spurned glorious opportunities to break the deadlock and, after Eddie Howe’s charges had hung on through sheer bloody-mindnessness, Bruno Guimaraes fired past Bernd Leno having capitalised on a poor clearance from Antonee Robinson to render Fabian Schar’s earlier disallowed goal academic.

This was a harsh lesson in what happens at the highest level when you fail to take your chances. The Whites looked much brighter than at the City Ground with Willian, restored to the starting line-up as one of three changes from Tuesday’s debacle, flicking a ball into the path of Tosin Adarabioyo, who charged forward and released Robinson only for Martin Dubravka to save at his near post. Willian was everywhere in the first ten minutes, shooting over after an intricate move involving Tom Cairney and Rodrigo Muniz, and then whipping an effort wide.

The recalled Timothy Castagne found oceans of space on the right flank. He slid along the byline to keep the ball alive for Palhinha, but the Portuguese midfielder placed his strike a couple of yards past the far post. Newcastle, grateful to still be level, gradually came into the game with Leno racing off his line to prevent Alexander Isak from reaching a Sean Longstaff lay-off before the lively Anthony Gordon whacked a shot wide from 20 yards. The England international’s quick feet then beat Castagne but, having worked an angle for himself, the winger’s shot whistled a whisker wide of goal.

Fulham still finished the first half on top and should have gone in front when Andreas Pereira contrived to nod a straightforward headed chance wide. The Brazilian playmaker sought to make amends and his prodded ball caused consternation in the Newcastle defence allowing Muniz to nip in but the striker placed his shot too close to Duvbravka – and the visitors breathed a huge sigh of relief. Howe’s men were much improved after the interval with Leno batting away a powerful Gordon drive after he had sped away from Castagne, but the home side still looked to carry more of a threat.

Pereira tested Duvbravka’s reflexes by hammering a half volley from the edge of the area after finding half a yard of space, but the Slovakian keeper smothered the shot superbly. The tempo dipped after an hour, with Newcastle eventually enlivened by the introduction of Barnes, who had turned last weekend’s epic against West Ham decisively in his side’s favour. United thought they had gone in front when Gordon kept a corner alive, crossing for Schar to smash a low shot into the net at the far post, but the goal was chalked off for a foul by Burn on Calvin Bassey after a lengthy VAR check.

Fulham’s reprieve was shortlived, however. Barnes burst down the left flank and when his ball in wasn’t dealt with by a tired Robinson, Guimaraes gathered himself and lashed the loose ball past Leno to the delight of the travelling supporters at the Putney End. Newcastle, whose injury crisis worsened with the first-half departure of a limping Joe Willock, survived nine minutes of stoppage time and a succession of Fulham corners to move within a point of seven-placed West Ham United and back into European contention.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Bassey; Palhinha (Broja 85), Cairney (Lukic 65); Iwobi, Willian (Wilson 65), Pereira (Traore 65); Muniz (Jimenez 86). Subs (not used): Rodak, Ream, Reed, De Cordova-Reid.

BOOKED: Lukic.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-3-3): Dubravka; Hall (Dummett 90+5), Krafth, Schar, Burn; S. Longstaff, Bruno Guimarães, Willock (Anderson 40); Jacob Murphy (Barnes 65), Gordon (Ritchie 90+5), Isak. Subs (not used): Karius, Gillespie, White, Diallo, A. Murphy.

BOOKED: Krafth, S. Longstaff.

GOAL: Bruno Guimarães (81).

REFEREE: Sam Allison

ATTENDANCE: 24,418