Newcastle United’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season was abruptly halted as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage, missing the opportunity to claim the top spot in the league.
The match began in bright sunshine, with Fulham quickly asserting their dominance. Raul Jimenez opened the scoring just moments after Newcastle’s Joelinton had a goal disallowed for offside, showcasing his skill with an impressive control and finish.
Fulham doubled their lead in the 22nd minute, thanks to the impressive chemistry between Alex Iwobi and Emile Smith Rowe.
The duo, familiar from their days at Arsenal, exchanged slick passes down the left flank, culminating in Smith Rowe’s unexpected first-time shot that squeezed through the hands of Newcastle’s goalkeeper Nick Pope, who will surely want that one back.
Despite Fulham’s pressure, they could not extend their lead further before half-time, with Smith Rowe nearly scoring again with a powerful drive that rattled the crossbar.
Newcastle, while struggling, were relieved to only be two goals down at the break.
In response to their first-half performance, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe made tactical changes at halftime, introducing Jacob Murphy, who made an immediate impact.
Just after the restart, Murphy found Harvey Barnes in a pocket of space just outside the penalty area.
Barnes, who had scored a stunning winner against Wolves the previous week, delivered a low shot that found the far corner of the net, reigniting hope for the visitors.
However, Fulham remained resolute and regained control, showcasing their attacking prowess throughout the match. Meanwhile, Marco Silva maintained the same starting lineup that had drawn against West Ham the previous weekend, indicating his confidence in the squad.
In a separate encounter at St Mary’s Stadium, Ipswich Town managed to salvage a dramatic point against Southampton with a last-minute equalizer.
Sam Morsy’s deflected shot in the dying moments of the match flew into the top corner, leaving both teams still searching for their first Premier League win of the season.
Southampton had initially taken the lead through 18-year-old Tyler Dibling, whose composed finish came just five minutes into the match, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Ipswich.
Despite some strong chances, including a shot that hit the post, Southampton struggled to convert their opportunities. Ipswich, on the other hand, found their rhythm late in the game, culminating in Morsy’s late heroics that ensured they left with a hard-fought draw.
As the Premier League season progresses, Newcastle will need to regroup quickly after this setback, while Fulham can take significant momentum from their performance.
Ipswich, buoyed by their late equalizer, will look to build on this result in their upcoming fixtures.
