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Fulham 2 Newcastle United 0
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- Fulham 2 Newcastle United 0
Fulham 2 Newcastle United 0
The Magpies fell behind in the first-half at Craven Cottage through Issa Diop 's close-range header, reacting quickly to nod the ball into an empty net after Kevin's initial free-kick crashed off the crossbar.
Tom Cairney 's curling effort extended Fulham 's advantage in the closing stages, with Sean Neave 's late introduction - making his Premier League debut for his boyhood club in the process - proving a mere consolation on an otherwise difficult afternoon in West London.
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Eddie Howe made three changes to the starting XI which claimed a 3-1 win against West Ham United last weekend as Dan Burn , Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock replaced Kieran Trippier , Harvey Barnes and Sandro Tonali respectively, with the Italian midfielder unable to start after suffering an injury during the warm-up.
Playing in sweltering weather conditions exceeding 30 degrees, the Magpies fell behind in the 18th minute through Diop. After Kevin's impressive free-kick struck the crossbar, with Nick Pope beaten, the French defender was on hand to nod the ball into an empty net from close-range.
Newcastle were unfortunate not to level shortly after as a neat move involving Bruno Guimarães and Willock saw the latter's teasing low cross turned out for a corner by the alert Timothy Castagne , with Lewis Hall waiting at the back post to tap the ball home.
Pope made a key save to prevent Fulham from doubling their lead, comfortably holding Rodrigo Muniz 's glancing header after the Brazilian managed to get across Dan Burn from Oscar Bobb 's cross.
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Willock, on target during Newcastle's 2-0 win against Fulham on the final day of the 2020/21 campaign, went close to netting his first goal since January after racing onto Nick Woltemade 's threaded pass but saw his shot saved by Bernd Leno 's right leg.
Newcastle began the second half in bright fashion as Willock flashed an inviting pass across the face of goal but the ball evaded a touch from any United attackers inside the penalty box.
The visitors survived attacking pressure from the West London outfit as Cairney, introduced from the bench, was invited to shoot from distance before his low drive flew narrowly wide of the right-hand post.
The Fulham captain went even closer to doubling the Cottagers' lead shortly after, controlling Alex Iwobi 's lay-off on the edge of the box before drilling a powerful effort inches wide of the far post.
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Neave, who celebrates his 19th birthday on Wednesday, was handed an early present as the Winalton-born teenager, who has registered 15 goals for United's U21s this season, was handed his Premier League debut for his boyhood club in the closing stages.
Fulham, however, doubled their lead in the 80th minute through Cairney as the midfielder was granted time and space on the edge of the box before curling a stunning effort into the top left-hand corner.
Newcastle's defeat saw them leapfrogged by Fulham, finishing in 12th place of the English top-flight on 49 points.
Newcastle United :Nick Pope, Lewis Hall, Sven Botman , Malick Thiaw , Will Osula ( Yoane Wissa 66), Jacob Murphy (Harvey Barnes 46), Nick Woltemade (Sean Neave 77), Joe Willock, Dan Burn (Alex Murphy 84), Bruno Guimarães ( Anthony Elanga 66), Jacob Ramsey .
Subs not used: Aaron Ramsdale , John Ruddy , Kieran Trippier, Anthony Gordon .
