Goals:

0-1: Shelvey (8, controlled Ritchie’s corner before curling a beautiful half volley inside the top of Rico’s net)

0-2: Perez (11, reacted first to poke a finish over the line after Rico made a mess of Atsu’s low drive)

0-3: Schar (61, climbed above his marker to nod Ritchie’s corner inside the keeper’s left hand post)

0-4: Rondon (90, charged through and after being denied initially by Rico he then slotted in the rebound)

Bookings: Bryan (59, foul)

Referee: Kevin Friend (Walsall) – a very routine afternoon when he only had to book one player. 7

Attendance:

Entertainment: ***

Fulh Newc

Shots on 2 6

Shots off 14 7

Corners 5 5

Offsides 2 2

Fouls 5 8

FULHAM (4-5-1): Rico 3; Christie 4 (Babel 65, 5), Marchand 5, Mawson 4, Bryan 5; R Sessegnon 6 (Kebano 81), Chambers 6, CAIRNEY 6, Anguissa 5, Ayite 5 (Elliott 74); Mitrovic 5. Subs (not used): Fabri (gk), Ream, de la Torre, S Sessegnon.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (3-4-2-1):

6 Dubravka: Wasn’t asked too many serious questions but did hold everything that he had to as he kept a clean sheet

8 SCHAR: From start to finish he defended exceptionally and then also capped a fine display with a headed goal

8 Lascelles: Couldn’t have done much more in his own box to stop the Cottagers from scoring

7 Dummett: Defended strongly at wing-back briefly towards the end as well as in the three-man defence;

7 Hayden: Performed excellently after being asked to fill in as a wing-back rather than operate in the middle and given a perfect send-off

8 Shelvey: Scored an absolute screamer to get Newcastle on course for three points on the final day

6 Diame: Played well in that midfield role on what is likely to be his final appearance for the Magpies

7 Ritchie: His deliveries caused Fulham problems all afternoon and he created two goals

7 Atsu: Did what was expected of him and had a big part to play in Perez’s goal before his withdrawal

8 Perez: Scored another goal and created Rondon’s too on an afternoon when he showed again he is such a big part for Newcastle;

7 Rondon: Must have feared he wouldn’t get the goal he wanted on what could be his final appearance but eventually did

Subs:

Muto (for Atsu 65): Showed plenty of energy and tried hard to get involved. 5

Fernandez (for Hayden 69): Hardly had anything to do. 5

Kenedy (for Dummett 81)

(not used): Darlow (gk), Clark, Cass, Watts.

MAN OF THE MATCH: FABIAN Schar – could have been a few players on this occasion but edged it for doing what he had to do in both boxes.