Miguel Almiron scored twice as Newcastle United hit four past 10-man Fulham at Craven Cottage to move up to sixth with their first Premier League win since the opening day.
Fulham’s day started poorly when Nathaniel Chalobah was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Sean Longstaff in the eighth minute.
Three minutes later Callum Wilson, returning from injury, tapped in Joe Willock’s header before Almiron effectively killed off the game in the 33rd minute with a superb looping volley.
Longstaff added a third for the visitors just before the break, striking home a rebound after Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno tipped Sven Botman’s header onto the post.
And in the second half, Almiron turned in his second, pouncing on a Willock pass across goal.
Fulham scored a late consolation, with Bobby Decordova-Reid heading home Neeskens Kebano’s cross.
With striker Alexander Isak picking up a knock on international duty with Sweden, Almiron’s slick display and Wilson’s return to action after four games out with a hamstring injury could not have been more timely.
Almiron’s first-half strike was special. The Paraguayan found the net with a first-time volley, latching on to a looping pass from Bruno Guimaraes.
And the 28-year-old thought he had scored a first Premier League hat-trick midway through the second half, chipping in a third only to see his effort ruled out by the offside flag.
As for Wilson, the 30-year-old’s opener means he has now scored four goals in four top-flight matches against the Cottagers.
The former Bournemouth star had hit the post in the opening exchanges and went close to scoring a second in the 28th minute with a curling effort.
Midfielder Joe Willock was also lively for Eddie Howe’s side, picking up two assists and forcing fine-diving saves from Leno on either side of half-time.
Referee Darren England initially showed Chalobah a yellow card for his challenge on Longstaff but upgraded his decision to a red after VAR intervention.
Once Fulham went behind, there only seemed to be one winner.
Things went from bad to worse for Marco Silva’s side when star striker and former Magpie Aleksandar Mitrovic limped off in the 37th minute.
He was soon joined on the bench by debutant Layvin Kurzawa who also picked up a first-half knock.
Decordova-Reid’s goal came from Fulham’s only shot on target as the hosts struggled to get the ball upfield.
Defeat saw the hosts drop to eighth in the table.
The Cottagers visit West Ham away from home next Sunday, with Newcastle hosting Brentford on Saturday.
source – BBC
