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Fulham defender Rufus Brevett went close to scoring after 5 minutes
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| Saturday December 21, 2002 - Premiership |
| Newcastle |
(1) 2 - 0 (0) |
Fulham |
Solano (8)
Bellamy (70)
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Fulham, edging dangerously close to the relegation positions in recent weeks, failed to trouble Newcastle keeper Shay Given even once they were denied the solid start they needed by a mistake from their goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
Nolberto Solano and Craig Bellamy scored the goals that moved Newcastle United into the top four of the Premiership and the manner in which they disposed of Fulham to record a seventh successive home win suggested Sir Bobby Robson's team will be there at the end of the season.
Pestered in typical style by Bellamy, van der Sar mis-kicked a clearance straight to Solano and was left stranded on the edge of the area as the Peruvian judged his lob to perfection from 40 yards.
Rufus Brevett had not been so accurate two minute earlier with a similar attempt from closer in one of the rare first-half attempts from a Fulham side put under intense pressure for long periods. Here was an example of why a Newcastle defence which is so unreliable away from St James' Park has conceded only six league goals at home - the opposition are simply too busy trying to cope with their attack.
The chances came thick and fast, starting from the fourth minute when Aaron Hughes surged forward and almost capitalised on an excellent angled pass from Kieron Dyer.
Bellamy's 12th-minute cross was headed into the side-netting by Shearer, whose header two minutes later set up Bellamy for a shot at van der Sar.
The keeper also dealt with a free-kick from Shearer before he was almost embarrassed for a second time in the 20th minute. Brevett headed past the keeper in a moment of confusion, but Solano was denied another goal by Andy Melville's goal-line clearance.
Apart from a well-struck free-kick from Laurent Robert and a promising break by the lively Solano, Newcastle's opportunities in the rest of the half were not as plentiful
The Londoners were no better after the interval, though, and should have gone further behind when Shearer failed from the penalty spot. The striker blazed his kick over to stifle any post-match Fulham protests over a dubious decision which was awarded by a linesman after Dyer went down under a challenge from Sean Davis.
Shearer and van der Sar went head-to-head again a minute later when the striker was brought down outside the area by van der Sar who rightly escaped a red card because two defenders were covering.
The keeper's exit was only briefly delayed, though, because he was injured in the collision and replaced on the hour by Maik Taylor, who was beaten within 10 minutes by Bellamy's angled finish.
By then, Fulham were reduced to 10 men with Pierre Wome sent off for a brutal 65th-minute tackle on Andy Griffin, although the referee Alan Wiley originally thought Brevett was the guilty man and showed him the red card.
They had been ineffectual with 11 men; now they were happy just to keep the scoreline respectable, achieving that aim thanks to two fine saves by Taylor from Robert.
Newcastle: Given; Griffin, O'Brien, Caldwell, Hughes; Solano (Ameobi 83), Dyer (Jenas 80), Speed (Acuna 87), Robert; Shearer, Bellamy. Subs not used: Harper, Dabizas.
Fulham: Van der Sar (Taylor 60); Djetou, Melville, Goma, Brevett; Goldbaek, Legwinski, Davis, Wome; Malbranque (Willcock 76), Marlet. Subs not used: Collins, Knight, Stolcers.
Referee: A Wiley (Staffs).
Attendance: 51,576
Bookings
Newcastle United: None
Fulham: Brevett (48) Van der Sar (50)
Sent off
Newcastle United: None
Fulham: Wome Nlend (66)