Alexander Isak sends Newcastle staff wild, Bruno’s tears and transfer plans may change – 5 things

Newcastle United have moved back up to third place in the table following a dramatic 1-0 win against Fulham at St James’ Park.

Substitute Alexander Isak scored the only goal of the game in the 89th minute. The late winner came after Aleksandar Mitrovic had a penalty disallowed earlier in the half because the former Newcastle striker accidentally kicked the ball on to his standing foot.

Here are five things we learned from the game.

READ MORE: Newcastle United vs Fulham highlights

Substitutions pay off as Howe goes for broke

Reaching a first League Cup semi-final in 47 years last time out was a huge milestone for this Newcastle side, but this was also a crucial game in the Magpies’ season. As captain Jamaal Lascelles wrote in his programme notes, it was ‘brilliant to have broken that ceiling…but, for now, we’re focused on today – and the manager wouldn’t allow anything different’. Was it any wonder?

Not only were Newcastle facing an in-form Fulham side who were just four points below them in the table going into this; Eddie Howe’s side had the chance to respond to results elsewhere. After all, not only did Manchester United defeat Man City and Brighton beat Liverpool; Spurs were facing off against league leaders Arsenal in the North London derby after this game.

Newcastle, as a result, could strengthen their position in the top four, but it would require real grit to do so. Fulham have been in seriously impressive form since the restart – winning four games in a row in the top-flight for the first time since 1966 – and Marco Silva’s side recorded a famous victory against Chelsea last time out.

This certainly was not going to be the 4-1 stroll for Newcastle like the reverse fixture in October when Fulham went down to 10 men after just eight minutes and that was quickly evident. Well-drilled Fulham may not have troubled Nick Pope with a shot on target but the visitors were resolute and quickly got men back on the edge of their area whenever Newcastle broke forward.

Just a couple of weeks after Leeds frustrated Newcastle at St James’, it was a reminder of the challenge the Magpies now face at home when teams are stubborn and Howe’s side simply have to take their chances. Newcastle certainly had their moments: Callum Wilson had two great openings just before half-time; Fabian Schar hit the post after the hour mark; and Allan Saint-Maximin’s low drive went just wide in the 77th minute.

There was time for one last opportunity, though, at the death. Having gone for broke and thrown on Alexander Isak with 20 minutes to go, Howe’s decision to switch to a 4-2-3-1 and leave Callum Wilson on the field paid off. It was Wilson who was picked out at the far post by Sean Longstaff in the 89th minute and the number nine cleverly hooked the ball back into the box for Isak to head home from just a couple of yards and send Newcastle staff wild on the touchline.

Aleksandar Mitrovic does his old side a favour

When Fulham were awarded a penalty by VAR midway though the second half, there was only going to be one man to step up and take it: Aleksandar Mitrovic. The former Newcastle striker has scored 11 goals this season – more than any other Magpies player – and you always had a feeling he would have a big role to play in this game. One way or the other.

Eddie Howe prepared his side for the Fulham striker’s ‘unique strengths’ which even the Newcastle boss admitted were ‘sometimes impossible to stop’. Dan Burn, meanwhile, warned: “They have got Mitro back for Sunday so I’m sure they will come to us full of confidence so we need to be ready.”

Although Newcastle kept Mitrovic quiet from open play, the Serbia star’s big moment arrived from the spot in the 69th minute after Kieran Trippier was adjudged to have fouled Bobby Decordova-Reid. Yet Mitrovic slipped as he took the penalty and the goal was disallowed after the Serbia international accidentally kicked the ball onto his standing foot.

Bruno Guimaraes in tears and Newcastle transfer plans may have to change

Bruno Guimaraes did not look comfortable the second he rolled his ankle early on in this game, but the Brazil international did everything he could to stay on the field. After trying to run off the knock, Bruno received treatment on the touchline later in the first half from physio Sean Beech before popping a couple of painkillers in the hope of being able to carry on.

However, by the time the half-time whistle went, Bruno was in tears, knowing he had to come off. Joelinton threw an arm around his countryman as they walked back to the dressing room together, but Bruno looked absolutely devastated.

It remains to be seen how this blow affects Newcastle’s transfer plans this month but, with Jonjo Shelvey already out for another few weeks, the Magpies are especially light in the middle of the park. A new midfielder may be needed sooner rather than later.

Newcastle have the best defence in the league

This was a Fulham side who had scored in each of their previous eight games. Marco Silva’s in-form side are one of the deadliest teams in the country from set-pieces so you can see why Dan Burn felt Newcastle ‘needed to be ready’.

Rock solid Newcastle stood up to that threat to keep five consecutive top-flight clean sheets for the first time in the club’s history on an afternoon where they did not allow Fulham a single shot on target.. Remarkably, you have to go back to November 6 for the last time the Magpies conceded a goal in the Premier League. Newcastle have now kept more clean sheets (11) and conceded fewer goals (11) than any other side in the Premier League this season.

While Pope and Newcastle’s backline have naturally got the plaudits, the Magpies really do defend as a team, whether it is Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron pressing from the front or Joelinton winning the ball back in midfield. No wonder Fulham boss Marco Silva said Newcastle were ‘one of the teams that play with the most intensity in this league – on and off the ball’.

Joelinton starts and proves his worth

In an ideal world, Eddie Howe would have always wanted to have named an unchanged line-up for this game, but the Newcastle boss faced a selection dilemma after Joelinton was charged with drink-drinking ahead of this game. The Brazilian left Howe in shock after he was arrested and charged whilst above the prescribed limit for alcohol after being pulled over by officers in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Although a ‘very remorseful’ Joelinton was desperate to play, Howe had to weigh up whether to drop the 26-year-old following the incident. It was such a delicate call that Howe was not even 100% sure what to do on Friday before the Newcastle head coach held further talks with Joelinton and ultimately made the decision to start him.

Howe, clearly, felt Joelinton was in the right frame of mind to play and the Brazilian put in a typically committed performance, whether it was tracking back to nick the ball off Harrison Reed and, then, Kenny Tete in the first half or seamlessly dropping back into midfield when Bruno Guimaraes limped off to enable Allan Saint-Maximin to play on the wing. When Joelinton won a free-kick for his side, which Fabian Schar hit the post from in the 61st minute, the midfielder even had his chant sung by the Gallowgate.

READ NEXT

Eddie Howe sends message to Newcastle players after Joelinton charge as he speaks to owners

Everything Eddie Howe said on Joelinton, transfers and Fulham at Newcastle United press conference

Newcastle get ‘massive’ stadium boost to realise owners’ dream as Brendan Rodgers sees change

Spiky Pep Guardiola words serve as warning but Newcastle won’t make same Southampton mistake

Newcastle get glimpse of future, Eddie Howe’s words to special guests and Leicester show class