NEWCASTLE UNITED v FULHAM, 1-2 Sat 9 Sep
2006
Substitute Carlos Bocanegra snatched a remarkable victory for
Fulham over Newcastle United at St James' Park.
The defender bundled home from close range with three minutes
remaining, just five minutes after Brian McBride had dragged the
visitors back on to level terms.
Scott Parkers second goal of the season had given Glenn Roeder's
side a 54th-minute lead but they failed to kill the game off and
were punished at the death.
A crowd of 50,365 at St James Park could barely believe their eyes
as a game the home side should have had wrapped up long before,
slipped from their grasp.
It was no coincidence that former Chelsea midfielder Parker had
left the pitch seconds before McBrides 82nd-minute strike after
turning in an inspirational individual display.
But with new £10million signing Obafemi Martins ineffectual on his
home debut and Shola Ameobi struggling for fitness, the first of
seven games inside 23 days turned horribly to condemn the Magpies
to a second successive Barclays Premiership defeat.
Twenty-four hours short of a year to the day since Fulhams last
visit to Tyneside, they returned to a stadium filled with
anticipation.
This time last year, club-record signing Michael Owen made his
debut, although the visitors almost spoiled the party when it took
a late equaliser from Charles NZogbia to snatch a point for
Newcastle.
Twelve months on and with Owen starting his recovery from knee
surgery, the onus was on new arrival Martins to provide the goals
to suggest there will be life after Alan Shearer.
But that particular question was left unanswered as the home side
enjoyed the better of the game but simply could not make the
pressure tell.
Ameobi forced a good save from Antti Niemi, but from an offside
position, and in truth, the Magpies strike-force while
hard-working, threatened only fleetingly before the break.
There were chances, however, as Parker and Emre dominated a central
midfield battle which lost the unfortunate Jimmy Bullard to what
looked like a serious knee injury after a 32nd-minute clash with
Parker.
Duff, who had earlier drilled a long-range shot just wide, called
Niemi into action two minutes before the break with a well-struck
drive and full-back Stephen Carr sent a fizzing long-range effort
just over in injury-time.
However, although NZogbia and Emre both went close and Ian Pearce
had to hack a goal-bound Duff effort off the line, the Fulham
defence was rarely breached.
At the other end, Given had little to do before the break despite
having to keep out a first-minute Franck Queudrue free-kick,
although he will have been concerned at the ease with which McBride
was afforded two headed opportunities.
Martins might have done better within two minutes of the restart
when Emre won possession and fed him, but he dragged his left-foot
shot well wide.
Fulham served warning that they were still in the game seconds
later when Wayne Routledge, who had replaced Bullard, found himself
in acres of space on the right with the path to goal clear.
He struck his shot well but the recovering Peter Ramage, a central
defender playing at left-back, slid in to deflect it over the bar
and protect a grateful Given.
It was Pearce providing the heroics at the other end on 52 minutes
when, while appealing for an offside flag which never came, he
managed to cut out Martins header back across goal towards the
unmarked Ameobi.
But his efforts counted for little as Newcastle took the lead
within two minutes.
Emre curled an inviting ball into the box for Parker to meet it
with a downward header which flew past Niemi and into the bottom
corner.
The relief was palpable and NZogbia might have extended the lead
three minutes later when he blasted wide from a tight angle after
Ameobi and Parker had carved Fulham open.
The visitors attempted to launch a fightback, but too often found
themselves undone by the hugely influential Parker.
Ameobi headed weakly at Niemi under pressure on 66 minutes after
Emre had crossed from the left.
Martins made way to warm applause for fellow newcomer Giuseppe
Rossi with 18 minutes remaining but it was NZogbia who forced a
fine save from Niemi two minutes later with another
powerfully-struck shot.
The Magpies were made to pay for their wastefulness eight minutes
from time when McBride turned up at the far post to stab
Routledges cross past Given to level.
Newcastle were undone again with three minutes remaining when
McBride headed Routledges corner against the bar and Bocanegra
bundled home the rebound.