Bruno Guimarães Strikes Late To Give Newcastle Victory Against Fulham

2 weeks ago

Newcastle’s caller main executive, David Hopkinson, is presiding complete a “100 time review” of each areas of nine operations.

It is nan benignant of guidance workout beloved of elder executives crossed type companies but nan reality astatine St James’ Partk is that almost each section is mostly a hostage to first-team fortunes. In different words, if Eddie Howe’s squad neglect to suffice for nan Champions League again adjacent play everyone will suffer nan consequences.

Given nan likelihood are overwhelmingly against Newcastle lifting that trophy adjacent spring, they desperately request to deed their Premier League stride and commencement clambering up nan table.

That process began present pinch only their 3rd League triumph of nan season. No matter that Howe’s squad were not ever precisely convincing and near it until nan 90th infinitesimal earlier Bruno Guimarães secured each 3 points, Newcastle suggested that they mightiness yet beryllium mastering nan creation of winning doubly a week.

With Howe’s players shadows of those who had deconstructed Benfica present successful midweek, they needed a changeable of fortune. It arrived erstwhile an atrocious attraction lapse connected Calvin Bassey’s portion prefaced Jacob Murphy’s opening extremity for Newcastle. As Bassey lingered connected nan ball, possibly daydreaming, Howe’s correct winger arrived connected his blindside, stole possession and accelerated towards nan area.

Not for thing is Murphy known arsenic nan “assist king” connected Tyneside but, each excessively often, his finishing lets him down. This though, proved a glorious objection pinch Silva’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno powerless to forestall Murphy’s ensuing angled changeable arrowing into nan bottommost corner.

In July Newcastle signed Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest for £55m to supposedly service arsenic an “upgrade” connected Murphy but nan second is deservedly keeping Elanga retired of Howe’s starting XI.

Although Murphy neglected inviting invitations to polish disconnected different mates of chances, Nick Woltemade sliced an early chance against a station and Anthony Gordon tortured Kenny Tete throughout, a sporadically slapdash Newcastle did not precisely person it each their ain way.

Fulham had their moments, astir notably erstwhile Adama Traoré escaped Dan Burn and delivered immoderate vulnerable right-wing crosses. Raúl Jiménez troubled Sven Botman astatine times, threatening to unhinge Howe’s rearguard and Nick Pope further reaffirmed his candidacy for England’s World Cup squad by redeeming smartly to contradict Sander Berge.

Newcastle did not ever make nan astir of Woltemade’s expertise to nexus play and, instead, allowed Fulham to equine a convincing consequence to falling behind.

When Kevin, introduced astatine half-time by Marco Silva, crossed pinch menace from nan left, Jiménez’s volley rebounded disconnected nan barroom and Sasa Lukic bravely hit Botman to caput beyond Pope.

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Botman’s effort to forestall that equaliser near nan Dutch defender nursing a gashed caput and looking decidedly groggy. On came Fabian Schär arsenic portion of a triple location substitution besides featuring nan presence of Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes. The lingering effects of a microorganism dictated Tonali had, unusually, started connected nan chair and nan Italy midfielder’s liberation from it was greeted by 1 of nan afternoon’s loudest cheers.

Howe’s problem was that his squad were struggling to woody pinch Kevin. Despite a definite erraticism, nan Brazilian winger, Fulham’s grounds £34.6m summertime signing, had begun demonstrating why he was Shakhtar Donetsk’s subordinate of nan play past word by tormenting Kieran Trippier.

With Silva’s broadside now looking vulnerable almost each clip they attacked Newcastle needed to return their chances and could person done without an unmarked Guimarães heading complete nan crossbar aft being cleverly cued up by Gordon.
Newcastle’s skipper knew he should person done amended but location was still clip to make amends. No matter that Guimarães near it alternatively late, he delighted successful sweeping a 90th-minute changeable past Leno aft connecting pinch nan rebound erstwhile Fulham’s goalkeeper could only parry a changeable from substitute Will Osula.