NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1):
4 Darlow: Only made one save all game and looked nervous whenever he came to punch clear – might have done better with Cairney’s goal
3 Anita: Suffered his most painful afternoon of the season as Sessegnon’s pace ran him ragged down Fulham’s left-hand side
3 Lascelles: Another day to forget for the skipper, who was undone on a number of occasions as his reading of the game let him down
4 Clark: His weak header led to Fulham’s second goal and he never looked comfortable against the pace and movement of Aluko
4 Dummett: Was undone on a number of occasions, and his head had gone by the time he bundled into Cyriac to concede the penalty
4 Shelvey: Endured one of his worst games of the season as a succession of passes failed to get anywhere close to their intended target
4 Colback: Anonymous throughout as he failed to get close to Fulham’s attacking midfielders – Cairney outclassed him for long spells
5 Ritchie: Kept plugging away down Newcastle’s right-hand side but rarely looked like making an impression on the Fulham defence
4 Diame: Lacked the guile that was needed to break down the Fulham backline – whereas Fulham attacked with finesse, he tried to bludgeon through
6 ATSU: One of the few bright spots in the Newcastle ranks as his direct running posed problems – set up Murphy’s goal
5 Gayle: Showed an alarming lack of sharpness on his return to the starting line-up – remains some way short of his best
Subs:
6 Murphy (for Diame, 61): Converted the one chance that came his way with an excellent finish – will rightly feel he deserves to be starting
4 Gamez (for Clark, 64): Came into the back four after Clark suffered a knock but didn’t make things any more secure
Gouffran (for Gayle, 74)
(not used): Elliot (gk), Hanley, Perez, Mitrovic.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1):
Button 7; Odoi 7, Kalas 7, Ream 6, Malone 7; McDonald 6, Johansen 7; Kebano 6, CAIRNEY 9, Sessegnon 9; Aluko 8.
Subs (not used): Bettinelli (gk), Fredericks, Cyriac, Parker, Madl, Sigurdsson, Martin.
Man Of The Match: TOM CAIRNEY – It’s easy to see why Newcastle were keen to sign the midfielder in January – and it’s equally easy to see why Fulham refused to let him go.
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