Fabian Schar and Bruno Guimaraes conspire to end Newcastle United’s unbeaten start to season
Newcastle United suffered their first defeat of the season at Craven Cottage, falling 3-1 to a dominant Fulham side. The hosts were in control for the majority of the match, and Newcastle’s performance, especially in the first half, left much to be desired. It was evident from the early exchanges that Fulham were the better side, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that they should have sealed the win before the break. While they went into halftime with a 2-0 lead, the scoreline could easily have been more lopsided, given how Newcastle struggled to cope with Fulham’s intensity and attacking play.
For anyone watching, it was clear that Newcastle were lucky to be only two goals down by halftime. Fulham were rampant, and Eddie Howe’s side looked completely off the pace. The Magpies were left chasing shadows, and their defense was continuously exposed. It was a far cry from the organized, disciplined Newcastle team fans are used to seeing, and the halftime scoreline was almost flattering to them.
However, the second half brought a spark of hope for Newcastle, as Eddie Howe made more substitutions at the break, something he’s been forced to do in recent weeks. The frequent changes suggest that Howe is still uncertain about his best starting XI, and that uncertainty is proving to be a worrying trend. Within 28 seconds of the restart, Harvey Barnes pulled a goal back for Newcastle, latching onto a perfectly weighted through ball from substitute Jacob Murphy. Suddenly, it looked like the game could swing back in Newcastle’s favor. Fulham, clearly rattled by the early goal, began to show signs of vulnerability.
The turning point came when Fabian Schar found himself in a golden position to level the match. After capitalizing on a poor pass from Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno, Schar had the opportunity to either shoot or square the ball to Alexander Isak, who was well-positioned in front of a virtually empty net. Instead, Schar went for goal himself and somehow managed to miss the target, a moment that perfectly encapsulated Newcastle’s frustrating afternoon. Had Schar converted that chance, it’s easy to believe that Newcastle could have gone on to win the game, but his miss left fans and teammates stunned.
To add insult to injury, Newcastle’s hopes of salvaging a result were completely dashed in the dying minutes. A disastrous throw-in by Lewis Hall, deep in Newcastle’s own half, set off a chain reaction of mistakes. Under intense pressure, Bruno Guimaraes attempted to dribble out from the back rather than clearing the ball, but his effort to play a cross-field pass lacked both power and accuracy. The ball landed directly at the feet of Fulham’s Reiss Nelson, who made no mistake in firing home Fulham’s third goal, sealing the victory for the hosts.
This defeat should serve as a serious wake-up call for Newcastle. Their performance was disjointed, and there are key players who need to take a hard look at themselves after this game. The team was sloppy in possession, disorganized defensively, and lacked the cutting edge that has been their hallmark in previous matches. While Howe has rightfully been praised for his work at the club, questions are starting to arise about his recent decisions. The fact that Newcastle has had to rely on halftime changes to spark a response in back-to-back games suggests that Howe is struggling to find the right formula.
Anthony Gordon, in particular, looks like a shadow of the player he once was. Since his arrival at Newcastle, his performances have been inconsistent, and he seems far from focused on playing for the team. Whether it’s a confidence issue or something else, Gordon’s form has become a concern for fans and coaching staff alike.
As for Howe, he needs to reassess his approach. His current team selections aren’t working, and his reliance on the 4-3-3 formation may need to be re-evaluated. It’s clear that something isn’t clicking, and if Newcastle want to compete at the top end of the table this season, adjustments must be made quickly. This defeat should serve as a reminder that there’s no room for complacency in the Premier League. The Magpies need to regroup and come back stronger if they hope to avoid further setbacks in the coming weeks.