Newcastle United overcame their UEFA Champions League setback by defeating 10-man Fulham 3-0 at St. James’ Park. They also managed to bring back some of their long-term absentees.
The Magpies defeated a subpar Cottagers team that fell short of their recent 5-0 victories against Nottingham Forest and West Ham last week. The Magpies were eliminated from European competition following their 2-1 loss to AC Milan on Wednesday. Prior to this match, they had won just two games in the Premier League.
With captain Kieran Trippier suspended, Eddie Howe welcomed back first-choice left-back Dan Burn to the starting lineup. Tino LIvramento, who filled in as Burn’s temporary left-back, moved back to his natural right-hand side.
Lewis Miley, 17, who had started Newcastle’s previous seven games, was benched and Sean Longstaff was also started again.
The Toon Army was relieved to see Sven Botman, who hasn’t played since September, come back from the sidelines. However, his return to the field was short-lived as Joelinton and Fabian Schar, two players who have been constants this season, were both substituted out with first-half injuries.
Not until Raul Jimenez’s dismissal in minute 20 for a clumsy challenge on Longstaff had reduced Fulham to 10 men. The Mexican first entered the game with his studs up, pushing for the bouncing ball, but he was eventually sent off early after taking out the Newcastle midfielder with his hip.
After Joelinton was substituted, Miley, the game’s first goalscorer, scored the first goal for the home team on minute 56. Miley’s shot went into the far corner following some incredible footwork by Bruno Guimaraes on the fringe of the Fulham area.
Seven minutes later, Miguel Almiron tapped into an empty net when Callum Wilson appeared to be upended by Antonee Robinson as he drove down on goal, giving Newcastle a two goal lead. The Paraguayan winger scored while the visiting defense protested.
With eight minutes remaining, Burn scored the third and final goal of the game by racing in at the back post and powering a wonderful Guimaraes outside-of-the-boot cross toward goal. The ball bounced off Burn’s thigh and into the back of the net after Bernd Leno’s knees had first denied it, extending the score over the 10-man Cottagers.
The match was evenly balanced at 1-1 when Luton’s trip to Bournemouth was called off due to a medical issue.
The Hatters’ captain, Tom Lockyer, went down off the ball with 65 minutes remaining. The defender received emergency care.
After a brief suspension, the game was given up on after 25 minutes.
As Lockyer was carried off the field on a stretcher, the team physician for Bournemouth attested to his condition, calling him “alert and responsive.”
As Luton attempted to defy the form book, Elijah Adebayo scored the game’s first goal in less than three minutes. However, two minutes before the hour, Dominic Solanke resumed his scoring rampage to tie the score.
Whether the game will be replayed has not yet been revealed.