Guimaraes' late goal sees Newcastle past stubborn Fulham
Marco Silva made the Premier League’s second-earliest triple change last time out but could be delighted with his side’s early intent on this occasion.
There still will have been a hint of frustration that Fulham’s didn’t translate their dominance into an opener inside the opening quarter-hour, though, as Antonee Robinson cut in before seeing his shot saved. Rodrigo Muniz then sent an attempt over, and Willian had one shot blocked by Sean Longstaff before sending the follow-up wide.
Fulham continued on the front foot with Andreas Pereira mistiming his header, and there was a different type of scare for the visitors when Martin Dúbravka went down injured. The goalkeeper sustained another knock from Emil Krafth around the half-hour mark, yet he stayed in the fight despite taking hits.
The Magpies showed that they could offer a threat of their own when Anthony Gordon slipped the ball through for Alexander Isak, who was let down by his touch. Gordon’s influence only grew with the half-time break approaching, with the winger sending two attempts marginally wide, but Joe Willock was then lost to injury.
Gordon and João Palhinha hit an attempt from range each as both teams looked for an opener, while Pereira’s venomous strike was palmed away by Dubravka.
Longstaff then hit a strike that was blocked by Tosin Adarabioyo before spinning harmlessly wide as the Magpies showed intent and Fabian Schär thought that he had made the breakthrough with a quarter-hour remaining. He collected Gordon’s cross and fired past Leno, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR check Dan Burn’s push on Calvin Bassey.
They still took the lead soon after, as a sweeping move culminated in Harvey Barnes delivering a cross that Antonee Robinson could only clear into Bruno Guimarães’ direction, and the midfielder finished clinically.
Newcastle defended resolutely to earn just the third win in their last 12 away games despite facing a wave of corners in over 10 minutes of added time. They also inflicted Fulham’s second defeat from their last two games.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United)
