Raul Jimenez and Rodrigo Muniz scored second half goals as Fulham stunned St. James’ Park by coming from behind to inflict a damaging defeat on Eddie Howe in his 700th game in management.

An error-strewn display saw the Magpies, maybe with half an eye on reaching Wembley in the League Cup on Wednesday, surrender a first half lead secured by Jacob Murphy’s instinctive finish as they fell to a second home defeat in succession. This one might not have been as comprehensive as the humbling handed out by Bournemouth a fortnight ago, but it felt just as damaging to Newcastle’s Champions’ League hopes.

The hosts were far from their best in the first 45 minutes – but led at the break when Murphy lashed home from close range after Anthony Gordon had seized upon a schoolboy error from Timothy Castagne – but wilted in the face of Fulham’s stirring second half revival. Emile Smith Rowe forced two fine saves from Martin Duvbraka within five minutes of the restart before a lightning break ended up with centre back Calvin Bassey nodding over at the far post – but the question was whether the Whites could find finishes to match the quality of their approach play.

Jimenez answered that question in the affirmative after showing his appetite for the fight by starting and finishing the move that brought Fulham back into the contest. He was in the left back position when he intercepted a pass from Sandro Tonali and ended up in the perfect position to score his ninth of the season – with the aid of a deflection off Murphy – after Antonee Robinson kept Adama Traore’s cross alive. The Mexican veteran was furious to be taken off for the second week running, but Marco Silva’s introduction of Rodrigo Muniz proved a masterstroke as the Brazilian reprised his match-winning role from Boxing Day at Stamford Bridge by touching Andreas Pereira’s near-post free-kick past Duvbravka.

Silva then sent on Issa Diop and switched to a back five to stem the late Newcastle onslaught which never really came. Howe’s side were booed off after not managing a shot on target in the second period, with substitute Lloyd Kelly heading over the bar, as the Cottagers recorded their first win at St. James’ Park since Ryan Sessegnon – who made an impact off the bench down the left flank here – ran amok as Slavisa Jokanovic’s stylish side surprised the runaway league leaders eight years ago.

The visitors were true to Silva’s philosophy of not shutting up shot against a potent United forward line, giving as good as they got in a very watchable first half. Fulham enjoyed plenty of possession but Newcastle were first to threaten Bernd Leno’s goal, although speculative shots from Bruno Guimaraes, Gordon and Murphy didn’t trouble the German goalkeeper. It took Fabian Schar to muster an effort on target, but Leno was able to smother the centre half’s toe-poke from a perceptive Guimaraes pass.

A raking pass from Andersen put Jimenez clear of Dan Burn only for the former Wolves striker to send a cross-shot disappointingly off target. Traore troubled Lewis Hall all afternoon, but the Spaniard was frustrated to head Alex Iowbi’s cross wide after climbing well at the back post. Newcastle always looked a threat when they broke through the grip of Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic in midfield, as illustration when Tonali shook the crossbar with a fierce 30-yarder, but the home side hardly needed the help of Castagne to take the lead.

The Belgian international allowed a ball to bounce on the half way line and was turned by Gordon, who surged away from Joachim Andersen before crossing from the left. Calvin Bassey tried to clear and ended up taking the ball perfectly into the path of Murphy, who sidefooted gleefully into the net at the Gallowgate End before bellowing belligerently in an extended celebration. Leno made a superb save with his feet to prevent former Chelsea full-back Tino Livramento from making it 2-0 – which proved crucial as Silva’s side superbly turned the tables after the interval.

Fulham’s recovery was the perfect mix of possession based football and diligent defending, although an end-to-end encounter might have had a different outcome had Joe Willock not missed his kick entirely at the near post six yards out shortly after coming on or Alexander Isak’s curler nestled in the top corner rather than rattling the woodwork. It was Silva’s predecessor who spoke about the fine margins of football – but Fulham were good value for this valuable victory.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-3-3): Dubravka; Livramento (Trippier 64), Hall (L. Kelly 87), Schar, Burn; Tonali, Guimaraes (Miley 87), Joelinton (Willock 64); Jacob Murphy (Osula 87), Gordon, Isak. Subs (not used): Pope, Krafth, Botman, Longstaff.

BOOKED: Burn, Joelinton, Tonali, Gordon.

GOAL: Jacob Murphy (37).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Andersen, Bassey; Berge, Lukic; Traore (Diop 88), Iwobi (R. Sessegnon 79), Smith Rowe (Pereira 72); Jimenez (Muniz 72). Subs (not used): Benda, Reed, King, Cairney, Godo.

BOOKED: Andersen, A. Robinson, Leno.

GOALS: Jimenez (61), Muniz (82).

REFEREE: Chris Kavanagh (Ashton-under-Lyme).

ATTENDANCE: 52,173.