• Date: Sat 15 December 2007
  • Venue: Craven Cottage
  • Ref: Webb, H
  • Attendance: 24,959

Fulham vs Newcastle United

Team Lineups

Fulham

Antti Niemi
Dejan Stefanovic
Aaron Hughes
Carlos Bocanegra
Elliot Omozusi
Danny Murphy
Clint Dempsey
Steven Davis (Shefki Kuqi, 75)
Simon Davies
Hameur Bouazza
David Healy

Newcastle United

Shay Given
Claudio Cacapa
David Rozehnal
Habib Beye
Njitap Geremi (Belozoglu Emre, 59)
Joey Barton
Nicky Butt
Charles N'Zogbia
James Milner
Obafemi Martins (Mark Viduka, 77)
Alan Smith


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

It's finished - Barton's late, late penalty gives Newcastle what had seemed an unlikely win in the end.

90
Goal
 

Barton sends his spot-kick past Niemi and Newcastle have the lead in injury time

90
Penalty
 

Omozusi is adjudged to have fouled Smith and it's a very late penalty for Newcastle

89

Dempsey advances for Fulham but Cacapa defends well

88

It appears we're heading for a goalless draw now

85

Bouazza can't keep his effort down at the other end

85

Smith is on the prowl for Newcastle at the other end before Barton's strike is well claimed by Niemi - Five minutes left

83

Kuqi almost gets in at the back post from Bouazza's ball in but Newcastle survive

83

The home fans try and rouse their side again

81

It's fast and furious, but still goalless as we enter the final 10

80
Yellow Card
 

Emre is booked for a poor challenge

79

Rozenhal fires the ball across goal but Fulham manage to scramble it clear

78
Substitution
 

Mark Viduka comes on for Martins - he's been disappointing for United

78

Murphy tries his luck but his effort is not quite good enough to get past Given

77

Either side could go on to win this with just over 10 minutes left now

76
Substitution
 

The on-loan Shefki Kuqi is on for the ineffective Steven Davis

75

Butt defends well for the Toon - not long left for either side to make the breakthrough

73

Bouazza fires over another good cross but Dempsey can't make the most of it

70

It's all very intriguing without loads of chances at either end

67

Newcastle waste a free-kick and then N'Zogbia's shot is poor and off-target

65

Nicky Butt's header is straight at Niemi - a decent chance for the visitors though

65

All very hectic still as Rozenhal is fouled by Danny Murphy in midfield - still no bookings, or goals, here

63

Stefanovic defends well this time for Fulham as Newcastle look to improve

61

Fulham break quickly again but Newcastle do well defensively this tine

60
Substitution
 

Sam Allardcye hauls off his captain Geremi and replaces him with Emre

59

Another quick Healy shot is blocked as the home fans react to the pressure and try to raise the volume

57

Healy's snapshot is fired well at Given - the keeper does well to get behind it

55

Bouazza's cross is deflected behind for a corner - the home side are on top at the moment as Stefanovic's header is easily claimed by Given

54

Dempsey needs treatment but he'll be fine

52

Bouazza's free-kick is poor and it drifts over Given's goal

50

A decent start to the half from the home side

49

Beye diverts Davies' cross behind for a corner

47

Fulham will be looking for an improvement in the second half - but traditionally this season they have been poor in the second 45

Second half
 

The second period gets underway at the Cottage

Half time
 

Level at the break, but Newcastle have shaded it so far

45

Simon Davies' free-kick is blocked and Martins breaks for the visitors but Hughes does well to deny him

43

Close to half time and Newcastle have certainly had the better of it as N'Zogbia's cross is claimed by Niemi again

41

Milner's cross is again a good one, but Niemi catches it well with Obafemi Martins lurking

39

N'Zogbia's free-kick is curled in dangerously but Rozenhal can't get a touch on it

37

Charles N'Zogbia does well to defend for Newcastle at the back post as Bouazza's cross was dangerous

36

Still a lively game but, apart from that that early Barton header, not loads of chances

34

Milner's cross is well headed clear by Dejan Stefanovic

34

Smith is proving to be a handful for the Fulham defence but he's yet to carve out a chance

31

Dempsey's shot is wide for Fulham

30

Healy is caught offside just as the Ulsterman thought he was in

28

Another Geremi corner is overhit and Niemi gathers

26

Bouazza's strike is off-target as Fulham advance again

26

It's gone a bit scrappy all of a sudden with a lack of chances in the last 10 minutes

23

The home side have improved somewhat after what was a dire start from them

21

Bouazza is adjudged to have fouled Habib Beye as Fulham look to press forward

18

It's been a really bright opening 20 minutes here with Newcastle largely on the front foot

16

Cacapa's strike from way out is high and wide

15

James Milner's deep cross is headed goalwards by Barton but Antti Niemi makes a fine save

14

That's better from Fulham as Carlos Bocanegra's cross is claimed by Given

12

Fulham suddenly mount an attack and David Healy's cheeky chip is well turned over by Shay Given

11

The visitors have had all the possession early on and Fulham are yet to get out of the blocks this evening

8

It's all Newcastle and another corner from Geremi is eventually cleared by Dempsey

7

The visitors have settled quicker as David Rozehnal breaks well

6

Newcastle enjoy a bit of pressure, winning two corners on the trot - from the second Joey Barton can't quite make contact and the opening goes begging

5

No early chances to report as Alan Smith is frustrated by a good tackle from Aaron Hughes

3

Elliot Omozusi's cross is weak and it goes behind for a Newcastle goal-kick

2

A lively atmosphere here, with a full house expecting a decent game

Kickoff
 

The action gets underway slightly late at Craven Cottage in the Premier League's evening game

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Claudio Cacapa comes back in for Newcastle, in place of the injured Stephen Taylor, while Fulham bring back Carlos Bocanegra, Hameur Bouazza and Clint Dempsey