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Alan Pardew passed two years in charge of Newcastle United on Monday night, but it will not be an anniversary the manager looks back on with particular fondness.
He tinkered with his formation and cajoled his players constantly, but yet another away defeat leaves the visitors only four places above the relegation zone.
It may yet get worse: they must play Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal before the turn of the year, while Sunderland, in 18th place, have a game in hand against Reading on Tuesday.
All white on the night: Fulham secured a first league win since October, beating Newcastle
MATCH FACTS
FULHAM: Schwarzer, Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise, Duff, Sidwell, Baird, Kacaniklic (Dejagah 62), Berbatov, Rodallega (Petric 86). Subs not used: Etheridge, Richardson, Senderos, Karagounis, Diarra.
Goals: Sidwell 19, Rodallega 63.
NEWCASTLE: Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita (Marveaux 86), Tiote (Bigirimana 86), Ben Arfa (Shola Ameobi 72), Gutierrez, Cisse, Ba. Subs not used: Harper, Ferguson, Tavernier, Perch.
Goal: Ben Arfa 54.
Attendance: 25,270.
Referee: Lee Mason.
For Fulham, though, there is hope again and, crucially, goals. Martin Jol's side had gone more than five hours without scoring before Steve Sidwell's 19th-minute strike.
Even that was a little fortunate, as the midfielder's right-foot shot took a heavy deflection off Mike Williamson and cannoned in off the underside of the bar. But a second from Hugo Rodallega gave Fulham their first Premier League victory since October.
The gloom, however, only increases for Newcastle, despite Hatem Ben Arfa scoring on his return from a hamstring injury.
'I'm worried in that we're not picking up enough points,' said Pardew. 'The performances are much improved, there's more fluency about our attacking play, but it's a worry. We haven't got enough points and we've got a tough run of games. But if we keep working as hard as we did tonight, I think it will change.'
Bright start: Steve Sidwell fortuitous striker handed Fulham the lead in the 19th minute
Injuries have not been kind to Newcastle but there was little excuse for their defending.
Only a covering tackle from Danny Simpson had prevented Alex Kacaniklic scoring after just 60 seconds, while the manner in which Rodallega was allowed to chest down a Damien Duff cross in the box after 17 minutes provided particular cause for concern.
Newcastle had plenty of chances and Sascha Riether, who was excellent at right back for the hosts, cleared two shots off the line from Fabricio Coloccini and Demba Ba before Ben Arfa's goal.
But it could have been far worse for the visitors if Tim Krul had not performed so well.
Hatem bomb: Newcastle got back on terms thanks to Hatem Ben Arfa's deflected drive
They were continually exposed by Fulham's width, especially down the right. Duff's two assists equalled his tally in 68 appearances for Newcastle, while the home side's willingness to mix the odd long ball over the top with the attacking guile of Dimitar Berbatov and Rodallega was impressive.
'That was vital for us,' said Jol. 'I was so happy we scored first because that was our problem in the last couple of weeks.
'At 2-1 we should have scored two or three. We showed some character but I'm pleased we finished it off. After losing Clint Dempsey I'm very happy that Berbatov came to this club. He's an unbelievable player.'
Rough and ready: Both teams fought hard to find the winner, and both hit the woodwork more than once
Whisper it, but Berbatov not only exhibited all the style and swagger we expect but he worked hard in the absence of Bryan Ruiz, who has suffered a setback in his return from a hamstring injury.
Pardew's 4-3-3 formation left Berbatov with room to 'orchestrate', as he put it.
Newcastle were also exposed in central midfield, with Sidwell and Chris Baird picking off passes comfortably and protecting their back four. The visiting boss was forced into a change after his side went behind, slotting Ben Arfa back into a midfield four.
The Frenchman looked a little off the pace in his first start for a month, but still took it upon himself to embarrass Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer with a shot that found the roof of the net after 53 minutes. It took a deflection off John Arne Riise, but Fulham players were culpable of standing off Ben Arfa, and were duly punished.
Head boy: Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega grabbed the winner with a powerful header
Jol's side have thrown away 14 points from winning positions and it quickly looked as if would be a similar case.
But then Duff, booed throughout the match by supporters of his former club, curled in a beautiful free-kick from the right after 63 minutes. Rodallega eluded Coloccini with ease — it was shocking defending from Newcastle and particularly their captain — to give Fulham their first win in eight games.
They had to hold on in the final minutes, however. Coloccini hit the bar with a stinging shot, substitute Shola Ameobi attempted a right-foot effort and Jonas Gutierrez also came close.
The moment of the match was captured by the SKY camera's when AP was trying to explain something to John Carver and John's expression was one of "DO YOU ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING?" Yep John - just another 8 years of total lunacy from the number 1 clown.
- cm , Newcastle, 11/12/2012 06:51
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