Fulham 2 - 1 Newcastle

I said earlier that I would probably do better writing match reports of games not containing Spurs, and decided to put it to the test. Putting my preference for Newcastle United aside I tried to watch the game at Craven Cottage with neutral and observing eyes - as well as making notes. I also figured I could hardly do worse than the Swedish match commentator who, in reference to the vocal Toon Army, donning kilts and t-shirts in defiance of the weather, said that 'well, maybe Scottish people have more subcutaneous fat'. Scotland??

The game at Craven Cottage slowly turned into a thrilling affair, in which a rampant Fulham broke down Newcastle's defences and claimed the victory. What had begun as a battle between equals eventually became a one team show. However, Newcastle didn't go home without first letting Obafemi Martins work his magic to claim a well-deserved goal.

It was an active game from the very beginning - even if the first half was more of a tackling show than anything else - and it the pace at the high speed at which it continued throughout. Fulham's first chance came on 8 minutes after a free-kick was rewarded for handball, but in the even midfield battle that was the first half Newcastle had the more interesting chances. The physical nature of Fulham's game was giving Damien Duff problems on his flank, but no more so than allowing him to cross beautifully to Dyer who shot just outside the post on 17 minutes. Magpies skipper Scott Parker had a very good game, checking the midfield work of Brady, Davies and Brown and took a wide shot at goal. Fulham created some nice flowing attacks, but were unable to get past the defence, visibly strengthened by the arrival of "Gooch" Onyewu.

The only booking in a tough first half, where possession was hard come by, went to Bocanegra for a foul on Martins. Newcastle's strategy of trying to get long balls up towards Martins invariably failed at the hands of the Fulham defence, and forced Martins to play deeper than usual. Tellingly, the next chance for Newcastle was a cross from Duff towards Milner which was almost put away. Had it been a goal there would have been an element of comedy to it as the shot which Duff picked up had taken an unforeseen deflection off the head of referee Dowd.

Fulham's best chance in the goal-less first half came from a shot from Wayne Routledge, which was just over the bar - possibly helped over by Magpies goalkeeper Steven Harper. This was immediately followed by a chance for Newcastle, when a Milner corner was almost put in by first Taylor and then Parker. Just before halftime a shot from Martins was saved by Lastuvka.

In the second half play sharpened up, and became less a battle for each ball and more of passing and attacking - mainly done by Fulham. Invigorated by a goal just 3 minutes into the second half, in which an unfortunate back pass from Butt was picked up by Helguson and beautifully controlled shot long, between the defenders and over Harper, Fulham played with imagination and spirit. Four minutes later a header from McBride forced a save from Harper and the ensuing corner forced another one. A free kick for Newcastle immediately afterwards nearly equalised, as James Milner's strong shot went just outside.

In the first substitutions of the game Sibierski came on for Duff at the same time as Diop came on for Volz, who had taken a few hits - among others an accidental knee in the groin from Titus Bramble. Bramble was later booked for a foul on Helguson, and was lucky to not be sent off as his felling of Helguson really should have merited red. The ensuing free kick took a deflection off the wall.

Fulham's attacking kept increasing and had another reward as the giant Diop dribbled around Carr and simply pushed Onyewu out of his way. Onyewu, at 6,4 hardly of a slender build himself, could only watch as Diop crossed the ball to Brian McBride's feet, allowing the US forward to tap the ball past Harper to make it 2-0 on 72 minutes. A few minutes later a shot from Helguson was saved by Harper, but Fulham seemed increasingly unstoppable - to the delight of the home crowd at the Cottage.

Some lovely passing by Parker and the introduction of Nolberto Solano for Dyer didn't manage to turn the game around for Newcastle who were reduced to responding to Fulham's moves. It is to the credit of Newcastle's defence that the opposition goals stayed at two. This pacy match stayed at full speed to the very end, and in injury time the away fans were rewarded with a spectacular goal from Martins even if by that time it was too late to change the inevitable outcome of the game. Alone, against two defenders and from an awkward angle Martins twisted around and took a shot which the nonplussed Lastuvka had to watch going in. Obafemi Martins works his magic. Again.

Fulham
Jan Lastuvka, Carlos Bocanegra, Philippe Christanval, Franck Queudrue, Liam Rosenior, Moritz Volz (Papa Bouba Diop), Michael Brown, Simon Davies, Wayne Routledge (Clint Dempsey), Heidar Helguson, Brian McBride (Vincenzo Montella)

Goals: Helguson, 49; McBride, 73
Booked: Bocanegra

Newcastle
Steve Harper, Titus Bramble, Stephen Carr, Oguchi Onyewu, Steven Taylor, Nicky Butt, Damien Duff (Antoine Sibierski), Kieron Dyer (Nolberto Solano), James Milner, Scott Parker, Obafemi Martins

Goals: Martins, 90
Booked: Butt, Bramble, Milner