Newcastle Back to Winning Ways

Three consecutive defeats in all competitions meant that today's game versus Fulham was must-win, in order to see out their Premier League survival campaign. This was Newcastle's first game at home, funnily enough, since that losing spree began. With Fulham's poor away record, this should've been a match Newcastle could comfortably see through.

The match began with possession enjoyed by both teams, but in the first five minutes, no real goal-scoring opportunities were created.
Newcastle needed a goal, and they knew it. They began pouring men forward, and Fulham suddenly could't get the ball out of their half. Their team lacked the pace to counterattack efficiently, and Newcastle's constant attacks meant that Fulham didn't have enough players forward, so counterattacking proved ineffective.
Seventeen minutes in, Newcastle's injury problems persisted, and Davide Santon came off to be replaced by Vurnon Anita. This allowed Moussa Sissoko to play just behind Papiss Cisse, and Yoan Gouffran was shifted out wide. However, this meant that Jonas Gutierrez was now playing left-back. He might have been punished had Fulham right winger Stanislav Manolev been more productive on the attack.
Fulham realised that keeping possession and not wasting it would be the best course of action, as, heaven knew, they weren't going to be getting a lot of it that day.
Newcastle still attacked, and chances came by the dozen, the majority falling to Cisse. He was unlucky with a couple, but one chance that he blazed over the bar resulted in him getting evil eyes from his teammates, and, Alan Pardew, as Sylvain Marveaux was in acres of space to his right. One pass, and it surely would've been 1-0.
Fulham soon proved that there were indeed two teams competing for the three points, by venturing out of their half and testing the makeshift Newcastle back four. Dimitar Berbatov looked especially dangerous; he soon played a perfect pass through to Bryan Ruiz who's effort was blocked well by centre half Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.
A corner followed, and it turned into a goalmouth scramble as Fulham fought to get the lead. However, Newcastle cleared their lines fairly quickly.
 The two sides went in at the break, both probably thinking that they should be in the lead.

The referee resumed play, and the game continued. The second half started fairly lackluster in comparison to the first, and it took about eight minutes for the play to become as exciting as it had been in the first half.
Vurnon Anita had a twenty-five-yard effort deflected, only to scare goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer by rattling the crossbar. The closest anyone had come to a goal so far.
Steven Taylor also headed wide, and Papiss Cisse was unlucky not to score; only good reactions from Schwarzer prevented him.
Perhaps the biggest chance came when Marveaux put in a corner, and Yoan Gouffran headed on to the post, and, with all the bad luck in the world, Cisse followed in with another shot against the post. Not many Newcastle fans or players noticed, but Gouffran's initial header was deflected off Fulham fullback Sascha Writher's hand. Now, in a tight game like this, penalties have a huge impact, and there was no arguing against the fact that Newcastle clearly deserved the spot-kick.
Newcastle were dazed by their misfortunes, and Fulham capitalized by forcing a superb save from Tim Krul to tip Berbatov's header over the bar. Huge chance. Newcastle fell asleep.
Shola Ameobi was brought on to get that vital goal, and the substitution proved effective, as he had a shot saved by Schwarzer, but he was also given a free header that he wastefully put wide.
Newcastle grew reckless, and possession was wasted on numerous occasions, which led to Fulham almost grabbing the lead. They might've done had substitute Hugo Rodallega not slipped in Newcastle's penalty area.
Newcastle's carelessness was continued by Moussa Sissoko who seemed to think that he could simply conjure a goal my running with the ball into the Fulham defense. Strength and speed only get you so far unfortunately.
But the goal came. Yohan Cabaye's pass found Cisse who turned with a beautiful first touch, and finished perfectly into the left hand side of the goal. A goal like the many the Senegalese striker scored in his prolific 2011/12 season.
But Newcastle had it. That all-important goal. Alan Pardew's celebrations summed up the importance of it. That was three points closer to survival for the Magpies. And they deserved it. They had just been too unlucky that afternoon. Back to winning ways for Alan Pardew's Toon Army.
Leander Winden (@LeanderWinden)