Newcastle United 2-1 Fulham: Captain Fantastic Bruno snatches late winner

Newcastle United got their Premier League season back on track after a late winner in their 2-1 victory over Fulham on Saturday.

Sasa Lukic gave Fulham hope through a header to level the game, but Jacob Murphy and Bruno Guimaraes were the points of difference as Bruno’s late winner secured the Magpies a massive three points after a tough start to the Premier League season.

Eddie Howe’s side went into the game making only one change from their 3-0 win over Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday, with Joelinton coming back into the side to replace Jacob Ramsey, with Sandro Tonali still not being deemed fit enough to start while recovering from an illness.

Newcastle started well, with early pressure resulting in a massive chance for Nick Woltemade in the fourth minute whose effort hit the post following a Kieran Trippier cross.

It only took the Magpies 18 minutes to open the scoring, Jacob Murphy pounced on a Calvin Bassey mistake to go through on goal before he expertly tucked his effort in off the post to secure his first goal of the season.

Newcastle had the chance to go 2-0 up in the 39th minute when Anthony Gordon played Jacob Murphy through on goal, but Bernd Leno managed to keep his side in the game with a massive save to deny Murphy of his second of the game.

Fulham then grew into the game early in the second half with Newcastle losing their intensity. Sloppy passing allowed for Kevin to play a wonderful cross into the box which was met by Raul Jimenez, who hit the bar, however Sasa Lukic was free to slot the rebound into an empty net.

The Magpies then looked to the bench to change the game, bringing on William Osula and Anthony Elanga to add pace and intensity back into the frontline, a decision that would result in the Magpies’ 90th minute winner.

Both Osula and Elanga would put pressure on the Fulham backline before winning the ball back – Osula would then run at the out of position – Fulham backline and attempt a shot from the edge of the area, which was parried out by Leno to the feet of Bruno Guimaraes who calmly finished into the bottom right corner to secure a massive win for Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe’s side took lessons from the late Brighton defeat, with the three points against Fulham being vital to keeping the Magpies’ Premier League season alive, taking them to 12th in the league, only three points behind 7th placed Liverpool.