Sunday Fulham Stuff (14/11/10)...

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/nov/13/newcastle-united-fulham-premier-league?

Newcastle lack punch without banned Barton as Fulham gain away point


Newcastle United's Fabricio Coloccini and Fulham's Simon Davies in action at St James' Park.
Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

As befits a team who play in black and white, Newcastle do not really do shades of grey. Consistency seems anathema to Chris Hughton's side. Turn up at St James' Park and you might see them smash five or six goals past an Aston Villa or a Sunderland. Alternatively, they could just as easily stutter to an unscheduled defeat or, as was the case today, a disappointing draw.

"Our home form has been indifferent, it's something we need to address," acknowledged Hughton. "We were just lacking that bit in front of goal but, to be fair, it's not a bad point against very well organised opponents."

Having been suffocated by Sam Allardyce's 3-6-1 formation as Blackburn won here last Wednesday, Kevin Nolan and company were thwarted in contrasting, rather easier on the eye, fashion here as an aesthetically pleasing Fulham delighted in out-thinking and out-passing their hosts.

If Mark Hughes had been two decades younger and on the pitch instead of in the away technical area, the visitors would surely have prevailed but, lacking such an attacking talisman, his players could not quite translate general superiority into goals.

While Moussa Dembélé consistently ruffled Hughton's defence – on one occasion hitting the bar – and there were brief flashes of the fit-again Andrew Johnson's devastating change of pace, clear-cut openings proved stubbornly elusive.

It was that sort of afternoon. With Danny Murphy and Simon Davies dominant in central midfield and the sporadically menacing Andy Carroll often getting small change out of Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes, Newcastle chances were similarly few and far between.

Frequently bereft of imagination in open play, their best first half moment came when first Carroll, on the volley, and then Peter Lovenkrands went close from a Danny Guthrie corner.

Perhaps Hughton's team needed to modify their growing habit of hitting high balls in Carroll's direction and begin bringing his devastating left foot into things more.

When he did receive possession on the ground, the home centre forward unleashed a superb, low, left footed volley which stretched Mark Schwarzer to the limit. At the opposite end, Tim Krul repelled a Dembélé shot, but Newcastle had finally begun piling some second half pressure on.

Unfortunately for Hughton, Hangeland and Hughes have withstood far more intense bombardments and duly held their nerve. Not for the first time this season, St James' received a reminder that top level football demands brains as well as bombast.

Aided by the absence of Newcastle's suspended Joey Barton, Fulham boasted the knack of cleverly rationed Carroll's service.

"Andy Carroll is a handful but needs quality balls into the box," said Hughes. "We were able to keep him outside the box for long periods, that's the key to keeping him quiet. Our two centre halves were excellent but we were also really positive, we took the game to Newcastle and played in their half. We didn't want to be dictated to."

Hughton's admirable refusal to allow Mike Ashley, Newcastle's owner, to make him appoint a new assistant to replace Colin Calderwood, now managing Hibs, from within has resulted in his workload becoming almost overwhelming.

"It's frustrating, it's a demanding job," said Hughton. "I have a very good staff but it's a small staff; we do need to replace Colin."

At Newcastle, impasses are not always restricted to the pitch.

THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

DAVID HOLMES, Observer reader As Newcastle fans say about the team: "They are they consistent in being inconsistent." We had no penetration. A game against Fulham doesn't really get your heart beating and especially when they turned up with their camouflage strip. Hangeland sorted out Carroll. Krul and Schwarzer both made good saves but the teams cancelled each other out. Fulham were much better to watch than Blackburn. Carroll, after all the hype had a pretty average game. Bizarrely I'm kind of disappointed with our league position as I really thought we'd get six points from these two home games. But I suppose we are OK in seventh.

The fan's player ratings Krul 5; Simpson 5, Williamson 5, Coloccini 5, Enrique 5; Guthrie 5 (Routledge 76 5) Tioté 5, Nolan 5, Gutiérrez 5; Carroll 5, Lovenkrands 5 (Ranger 76 5)

KEVIN O'DONNELL, Observer reader Why no John Pantsil? Pantsil, Pantsil, Pantsil, we want him back. It makes no sense to me and to thousands of Fulham supporters that Mark Hughes doesn't play him. Stephen Kelly can't cross very well and is not as good a player as Pantsil. Last week Hughes even played a 19‑year‑old, Briggs, and Kelly in front of Pantsil. This was a battling display but with, as usual, no cutting edge. Neither team dominated the match but Fulham looked more dangerous in the first half and Newcastle in the second. The last team to play Duff at left-back were Newcastle and they were relegated.

The fan's player ratings Schwarzer 6; Kelly 5, Hughes 8, Hangeland 8, Duff 6; Gera 6 (Etuhu 69 6), Murphy 6, Davies 7, Dempsey 6; Dembélé 5; A Johnson 7 (E Johnson 89 n/a)

To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email [email protected]

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http://sport.virginmedia.com/football/article/2010/11/13/toon_denied_by_resilient_cottagers?

Toon denied by resilient Cottagers
Newcastle striker Andy Carroll was denied an eighth goal of the season by a stunning save from Mark Schwarzer as Fulham fought their way to a 0-0 draw at St James' Park.

A crowd of 44,686 thought the 21-year-old had opened the scoring with a stinging 52nd-minute volley, only for the Australian goalkeeper to claw it out of the bottom corner.

Schwarzer also made two good saves from Peter Lovenkrands to preserve his clean sheet on another frustrating afternoon for Chris Hughton's men on their own park.

It could have been worse for the Magpies, who saw Moussa Dembele's 70th-minute volley come back off the crossbar after Tim Krul had kept out three efforts from Clint Dempsey and another from Zoltan Gera.

But they at least claimed another point to add to their survival fund with the total now standing at 18.

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http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/November/NewcastleReaction.aspx?

Hughes' Newcastle Reaction

Fulham were held to a goalless draw at Newcastle on Saturday in a performance Manager Mark Hughes described as "rock solid".

The Whites impressed in what was a resilient and hard-working display; defensively sound and positive going forward.

"We're pleased with what we produced today and it was important that we went to St James' Park and played positively," Hughes told fulhamfc.com.

"Certainly in the first half, we took the game to Newcastle and caused them problems. We didn't want to be dictated and I think we stuck to the task. St James' Park is a difficult place to come – it always has been.

"We expected the response we saw from them [Newcastle] in the second half. They put a lot of balls into our box, but we stood up to that challenge – which was pleasing. We very much view this as a very professional away performance."

The Manager also spared words of praise for central defenders Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes who negated the threat of in-form Andy Carroll and Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan.

"Our two centre-halves were excellent today," added Hughes. "I thought they matched the physical presence of Andy Carroll, and Brede's match-up with him was particularly interesting. Carroll has been playing very well lately, and as we know, he's a handful.

"But Brede and Aaron are a really strong pairing and looked comfortable. I know Brede gets more of the headlines, but he very much appreciates the job that Aaron does alongside him.

"Defensively we looked really strong today, in fact, we looked rock solid. We made a few changes, but what we saw was a lot of energy and willingness throughout."



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/November/NewcastleReaction.aspx?#ixzz15F8b66jY

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http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11681_6505198,00.html?

Opportunities blocked
Chances didn't fall Carroll's way, says Charlie

Charlie Nicholas shared Andy Carroll'sfrustration after the striker failed to fire Newcastle to victory at home - but insisted Fulhamdeserved a draw.

The Cottagers have now gone 25 away Premier League games without a win but Nicholas told Soccer Saturday that they can be happy with their effort at St James', while on another day Newcastle might have had three or four.

"It wasn't a bad game - the Manchester derby midweek was a lot worse than this!" reported Nicholas.

"There were decent attempts on goal, the two goalkeepers were very good indeed and Moussa Dembele hit the bar.

"Newcastle definitely lacked guile. There were a few surprises - we knew the situation with Joey Barton being suspended, but they brought back in Peter Lovenkrands.

"Tiote was impressive again but there were four attempts, all headers and they all fell to Lovenkrands; on the other side of the coin you are sitting there thinking if Andy Carroll gets them he probably scores.

"He doesn't do a lot wrong, Lovenkrands, but it's just one of those days that nothing was going to be created for Carroll for a header.

"He had a couple of volleys, he struck them well, he lead the line well, but it was a little change to the system and I think it didn't quite help Nolan who tends to be quite strong at home in sniffing out goals.

"It was a very even match and I think a point each was as probably as fair as you can get on a day like this.

Opportunities
Nicholas added: "Newcastle missed Barton - Danny Guthrie came in and played that position. He's a similar type of player but I think Barton is probably a bit better on the ball. But Guthrie played alright, he put some lovely crosses in there, he really did, so I don't think they missed Barton that much.

"It was more a case of the opportunities that they had they didn't take. Saying that, Fulham made their own opportunities at times.

"Dembele played a lot better today; he got a bit closer to Andy Johnson, who just worked his socks off. They took a bit of time to get going but once Murphy could get hold of the ball they passed it well enough.

"Andy Johnson played the best part of 80-plus minutes - he runs the channels, the corners, everything, really, really well. He looks sharp but he's not getting many chances to try to finish."

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http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2010/11/13/fulham-keep-newcastle-united-at-bay-64767-27653682/?

Fulham keep Newcastle United at bay

FULHAM had Mark Schwarzer to thank for earning a share of the spoils at St James' Park.

The Aussie keeper (pictured) was in fine form to keep out goalbound efforts from England prospect Andy Carroll and Peter Lovenkrands.

But the Whites almost stole the points midway through the second half when Moussa Dembele hit the bar with a close-range volley after sub Dickson Etuhu had knocked the ball down into his path.

It means the Whites' search for a first away win in the league for 15 months goes on.

After an eighth league draw of the campaign, they have now gone 25 consecutive away games without victory.
Duff, returning to his former club for the first time since leaving Tyneside in the wake of relegation just over a year ago, endured an uncomfortable time.

Deployed in the unfamiliar role of left-back after an injury to Carlos Salcido, the Republic of Ireland international's every touch was greeted with a chorus of boos from Geordie fans.



Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2010/11/13/fulham-keep-newcastle-united-at-bay-64767-27653682/?#ixzz15F9NCKUg

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http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/November/PositiveGera.aspx?

Positive Gera

Fulham favourite Zoltan Gera believes his side had chances to win on Saturday, but insists a point at St James' Park is a difficult proposition.

Mousa Dembélé rattled the Newcastle crossbar with a powerful second-half volley, while both Gera and Clint Dempsey drew decent stops from home goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Both teams created opportunities in what was an entertaining encounter, with hosts showing just why they entered the game in fifth place.

"They [Newcastle] are enjoying a good season so far and they showed this afternoon just what a difficult side they are to beat," Gera told fulhamfc.com. "We did okay, but you have to remember that St James' Park is a tough place to come.

"That said, I do think we created chances to put ourselves in a good position, and on another day, perhaps one of them would have gone in. Overall, I think we have to be happy with the point."

The 31-year-old also highlighted the return of Andrew Johnson, making his first start in more than eight months, as another positive, hailing the striker's performance as a "boost".

"AJ looked lively today, and you wouldn't have thought it was his first start in a long while," said Gera. "He didn't give the Newcastle defence a minutes' peace and constantly caused problems for them. It is good to have him back and his return to First Team action is a big boost.

"He got himself into some intelligent positions and looked a real goal threat. I'm sure in the coming weeks we will see more of that.

"At the other end I think the defence played really well also, and Mark Schwarzer made some very important saves. He showed just why he is one of the league's best 'keepers when he made that double save to keep out Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan.

"Newcastle had chances too, and they will probably feel they could have taken more also, but that shows it was an entertaining game. As always though, it was nice to keep a clean sheet. Newcastle have scored a lot of goals this season, so to keep them out is something that we should be very pleased about."

Fulham have just lost three times this season, the same amount as both Arsenal and Manchester City.

"People will talk about Fulham not winning away from home again, but the important thing is that we didn't lose," added Gera. "I'm not sure why we are finding it difficult to win on our travels, perhaps it's a little physiological?

"I think we have been quite unlucky though, and there have been times already this season where we have gone very close. We're working hard at getting that victory, and I'm sure one win will turn it all around – it's something that we hope will click into place."

Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/November/PositiveGera.aspx?#ixzz15F9hCrpZ

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http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/newcastle-0-0-fulham-all-square-between-magpies-and-cottagers-1246871?

Newcastle 0-0 Fulham: All square between Magpies and Cottagers

Newcastle United and Fulham have played out a 0-0 draw at St James' Park.

The Magpies and Cottagers fought hard for the point which was mainly brought about by a top-notch Mark Schwarzer save in the 52nd minute.

The Australian denied Andy Carroll an eighth goal of the season when he produced a stunning save from Carroll's volley to keep his side in the contest.

Newcastle dropped to seventh from fifth as Fulham remained 15th on the league table.

Newcastle United: 0
Fulham: 0

Venue: St James' Park, Newcastle
Crowd: 44,686
Referee: Lee Probert
Yellow cards: NU - Michael Williamson 45', Cheick Tiote 66'
FU - Brede Hangeland 56', Danny Murphy 90'

Starting Line-Ups

Newcastle
Tim Krul (gk), Fabricio Coloccini, Michael Williamson, Jose Enrique, Danny Simpson, Kevin Nolan, Cheick Tiote, Peter Lövenkrands (Ranger 77'), Jonás Gutiérrez, Danny Guthrie (Routledge 76'), Andrew Carroll

Subs - Ole Soderberg (gk), Wayne Routledge (76'), Nile Ranger (77'), Alan Smith, Sol Campbell, Steven Taylor, Xisco

Fulham
Mark Schwarzer (gk), Brede Hangeland, Aaron Hughes, Damien Duff, Stephen Kelly, Danny Murphy, Simon Davies, Clint Dempsey, Zoltan Gera (Etuhu 70'), Andrew Johnson (E.Johnson 89'), Moussa Dembele

Subs - David Stockdale (gk), Dickson Etuhu (70'), Eddie Johnson (89'), Jonathan Greening, Diomansy Kamara, John Pantsil, Matthew Briggs

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http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/onsong-fulham-keep-carroll-quiet-but-still-cannot-score-2133599.html?

On-song Fulham keep Carroll quiet but still cannot score

Clad in their changed strip of Harrods' green they may have been, but there the similarity with multi-millionaire largesse, flamboyance and extravagance ended. Fulham's was a gritty, no-frills display more at home in the more modest surrounds of Lidl or Aldi than than Knightsbridge. They remain without an away victory in the Premier League for more than 15 months, but on the evidence of this well-organised, fully committed performance, Mark Hughes' side won't have to wait much longer to rectify that statistic.

Indeed, it would have ended yesterday had Mousa Dembélé enjoyed more fortune when his close-range effort struck the woodwork with 20 minutes remaining of a contest short on entertainment.

"It was a good all-round display," Hughes enthused after an eighth draw for his side this season, no doubt relieved his defenders heeded his warning of the threat posed by Andy Carroll. On the verge of his expected England call-up, the Newcastle forward was well shackled by Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes.

When the gangling forward did break free, he was denied first by Kevin Nolan, who blocked his team-mate's point-blank volley on the line, while Mark Schwarzer did well to push away a venomous 25-yard volley early in the second-half. "We stood up to the challenge," Hughes added, "Carroll is their attacking focal point but we did well against him."

It might have been different had some of the chances which came the way of Peter Lovenkrands instead fallen to Carroll. The Dane was ring-rusty on a rare start for the hamstrung Shola Ameobi, spurning opportunities either side of the interval.

For Newcastle, a first clean sheet here since their opening home fixture in August was scant consolation. A modest single-point haul from back-to-back home games in the space of 72 hours is a disappointing return. The manager Chris Hughton rejectedsuggestions they are uncomfortable in front of their own fans. "As it went on perhaps the fear of losing becomes greater than playing expansively to win," he said. "We deserved to win but sometimes you have to say it might have been a good point."

Attendance: 44,686

Referee: Lee Probert

Man of the match: Dembélé

Match rating: 5/10

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http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/fulham-players-delighted-aj-over-successful-return-1247871?

Fulham players delighted for AJ over successful return

Fulham midfielder Zoltan Gera admits the locker room is delighted seeing Andy Johnson continue his comeback from long-term injury.

Gera highlighted the return of Johnson, making his first start in more than eight months, as another positive, hailing the striker's performance as a "boost".

"AJ looked lively today, and you wouldn't have thought it was his first start in a long while," Gera told fulhamfc.com. "He didn't give the Newcastle defence a minutes' peace and constantly caused problems for them. It is good to have him back and his return to First Team action is a big boost.

"He got himself into some intelligent positions and looked a real goal threat. I'm sure in the coming weeks we will see more of that.

"At the other end I think the defence played really well also, and Mark Schwarzer made some very important saves. He showed just why he is one of the league's best 'keepers when he made that double save to keep out Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan.

"Newcastle had chances too, and they will probably feel they could have taken more also, but that shows it was an entertaining game. As always though, it was nice to keep a clean sheet. Newcastle have scored a lot of goals this season, so to keep them out is something that we should be very pleased about."

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Newcastle-0-0-Fulham-Sunday-Mirror-match-report-Another-disappoint-home-result-puts-more-doubt-on-Chris-Hughton-s-future-article628713.html

Newcastle 0-0 Fulham: Sunday Mirror match report

Another Jekyll and Hyde performance from inconsistent Newcastle underlined why owner Mike Ashley has been in no hurry to offer his manager a new contract.

A side that has thrashed Aston Villa and Sunderland at St. James' Park and recently beaten Arsenal away have taken just two points out of 15 in the other home games against extremely moderate opposition.

Defeats on Tyneside against Blackpool, Stoke and Blackburn and scrambled draws against Wigan and Fulham have put a serious doubt in the back of Ashley's mind.

And this shot-shy, lacklustre display did little to enhance Hughton's chances of tying up a new deal any time soon.

Or, possibly even his search for a number two, as Hughton admitted afterwards that nearly a month without any hint of a replacement for his number two Colin Calderwood was "frustrating."

It was only the width of the home cross bar, left jangling by a 70th minute Mousa Dembele thunderbolt, that prevented yet another defeat in a stadium that had regained its reputation as Fortress St. James' in last season's Championship stroll.

But the truth was that Fulham with fit-again England striker playing his first game in 21 months, defended stoutly, played intelligently on the break and were only denied by some excellent saves from Newcastle's young Dutch keeper Tim Krul.

Fulham boss Mark Hughes was proud of the display but insists his draw specialists- they have shared the points eight times this term- are close to their first away victory since the start of the 2009/10 campaign.

Hughes said: "It's been a long time and it is something we talk about. But I think the crowd today saw we are getting nearer and I don't think an away win is too far away.

"We are frustrated with the draws. But five draws away is a big improvement. We took the game to Newcastle and had enough chances to have won, especially when Mousa Dembele hit the bar.

"We didn't just come and park the bus. We were always asking questions and trying to win."

But a defiant Hughton was adamant that Newcastle deserved to win and insisted the 44,686 crowd would have gone happy with his side's efforts.

But with five home points dropped out of six in four days against opponents Newcastle were expected to beat after their glorious Emirates success a week ago, the mood was not as upbeat as Hughton portrayed.

Hughton said: "I am disappointed because if any side was going to win the game it was us.

"We were the team that deserved to win the game.But it might turn out to be not a bad point.

"Our home form has been indifferent. It is something we need to address.

"Results are one thing and displays another but I don't think the fans will have gone away disappointed by the effort of the players."

The closet Newcastle went on a forgettable, frustrating afternoon for the home side was when an Andy Caroll shot was blocked in front of the visiting goal by his former landlord Kevin Nolan.

The rebound fell to the recalled Peter Lovenkrands but his effort was brilliantly blocked by Fulham Mark Schwarzer.

And there was another blow for Newcastle's thin resources when influential Ivory Coast international schemer Chiek Tiote was booked in the second half and is now banned for the visit to Bolton on Saturday.

And with the banned Joey Barton also missing at the Reebok, Hughton faces a lack of options.

Certainly Barton's absence for his total stupidity against Blackburn, was felt by Carroll, who had only scraps to feed on.

The one chance Carroll would probably have buried fell to Lovenkrands from a Jonas Gutierrez cross. But what should have been a simple header into the net was smothered on the line by Schwarzer.

But Newcastle had the biggest scare of the game when they failed to deal with a corner and sub Dickson Etuhu's header allowed Demebele to rattle the home bar with a thunderous volley from six yards.

And Krul needed to be in fine form in the first half with a close-range block from Clint Dempsey.

But a draw was a fair result on a day when Newcastle once again showed that they are arguably the most unpredictable side in the Premier League.



Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Newcastle-0-0-Fulham-Sunday-Mirror-match-report-Another-disappoint-home-result-puts-more-doubt-on-Chris-Hughton-s-future-article628713.html#ixzz15FBg1dxa
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http://www.football.co.uk/fulham/newcastle_0-0_fulham__report_rss1504842.shtml

Newcastle 0-0 Fulham: Report

Newcastle denied by resilient CottagersNewcastle striker Andy Carroll was denied an eighth goal of the season by a stunning save from Mark Schwarzer as Fulham fought their way to a 0-0 draw at St James' Park.

A crowd of 44,686 thought the 21-year-old, who could win a first senior England call-up, had opened the scoring with a stinging 52nd-minute volley, only for the Australian goalkeeper to claw it out of the bottom corner.

Schwarzer also made two good saves from Peter Lovenkrands to preserve his clean sheet on another frustrating afternoon for Chris Hughton's men on their own park.

It could have been worse for the Magpies, who saw Moussa Dembele's 70th-minute volley come back off the crossbar after Tim Krul had kept out three efforts from Clint Dempsey and another from Zoltan Gera.

But they at least claimed another point to add to their survival fund with the total now standing at 18.St James' Park was something of a fortress for the Magpies last season when they went through the entire campaign without a single defeat on home turf.

This time around, however, their fortunes have been mixed to say the least with thumping victories over Aston Villa and Sunderland having gone hand in hand with depressing defeats at the hands of Blackpool, Stoke and Blackburn.

What the home fans were hoping for was the kind of rousing start their side got off to against Villa and the Black Cats; what they got instead was a nervy opening 45 minutes during which they saw plenty of effort but too little craft.

Man of the moment Carroll was handled well by Brede Hangeland, while the Fulham defence as a unit proved equally resilient.After a slow start the visitors worked their way into the game as their passing and movement stretched their hosts and it was they who mustered the first serious attempts on goal in a flurry of activity.

First Krul had to come from his line to block Dempsey's close-range effort after Hangeland had flicked on a 28th-minute Simon Davies corner, and he then had to dive full length to turn away Gera's left-foot drive from 20 yards.

He was at full stretch once again on the half-hour to turn away Dempsey's curling shot with Fulham starting to dominate.However, Newcastle finished the half strongly and might have taken the lead themselves eight minutes before the break.

Danny Guthrie, deputising for the suspended Joey Barton, delivered a corner perfectly into Carroll's run and the striker's volley was unwittingly blocked by team-mate Kevin Nolan on the line.

The rebound dropped to Lovenkrands and he smashed it towards goal only for Schwarzer to save instinctively.But as the half-time whistle sounded, the anxiety in the stands had decreased little.

The home side needed only two minutes of the second half to call Schwarzer into action once again when Guthrie slid the ball into Lovenkrands' path and his shot was parried by the Australian with Hangeland clearing the loose ball.

Schwarzer was extended even further five minutes later when Carroll ran on to a clearance 22 yards out and blasted in a stinging volley which was heading into the bottom corner before the goalkeeper got down to turn it away.

But Krul had to match his opposite number's feat four minutes later when Dempsey ran on to Dembele's lay-off and fired firmly towards the bottom corner.

However, Newcastle went close once again with 66 minutes gone when Jonas Gutierrez and Guthrie broke at pace for the latter to cross for Lovenkrands, whose firm header was saved by Schwarzer.

Mike Williamson had to make a timely intervention to deny Cottagers striker Andrew Johnson, making his first league start since January, with 69 minutes gone, and from the resulting corner substitute Dickson Etuhu's header was blocked and Dembele rattled the crossbar with a volley.

Hughton threw on the youthful legs of Nile Ranger and Wayne Routledge with time fast running out, but it was Carroll who went closest as time ran down with Hangeland making a priceless block to keep out his 85th-minute strike.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9182099.stm

BBC: Newcastle   0 - 0   Fulham


Fulham's Moussa Dembele (l), who hit the bar, contests a challenge
with Cheik Tiote

A watchable contest between a Newcastle side whose home form is indifferent and a Fulham team without a win on the road since the start of last season ended, predictably, in stalemate.

The best chance of the game fell to Fulham, for whom Moussa Dembele hit the bar with a close-range volley from substitute Dickson Etuhu's knock-down.

Kevin Nolan accidentally obstructed a close-range Andy Carroll effort.

Both Carroll and Peter Lovenkrands were denied by Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Fulham have won only nine games on the road in the past five seasons, and their chances of making double figures at St James' Park receded the moment Dembele shuddered Tim Krull's crossbar midway through the second half.

After an eighth league draw of the campaign, they have now gone 25 consecutive away games without victory, having lost won away from Craven Cottage on the opening day of last season.

Even so, Fulham boss Mark Hughes is likelier to be the happier of the two managers.

The received wisdom was that Newcastle would struggle without the creative influence of Joey Barton, who began a three-match suspension following his dismissal for violent conduct against Blackburn in midweek, and so it proved.

Barton has laid on four of the seven goals scored by Carroll so far this season, and in the absence of such service the Magpies forward, who is widely expected to make his England debut against France at Wembley on Wednesday night, rarely came close to his effervescent best.

Aside from the driven effort which Magpies skipper Nolan inadvertently blocked, Carroll also saw a well-struck 20-yarder saved by Schwarzer, but Newcastle's most promising opportunities fell to Lovenkrands.

For the Fulham pair Damien Duff and Aaron Hughes, former Magpies both, it was an afternoon of contrasting fortunes.

Duff, returning to his former club for the first time since leaving Tyneside in the wake of relegation just over a year ago, endured an uncomfortable time.

Deployed in the unfamiliar role of left-back after an injury to Carlos Salcido forced Mark Hughes into a defensive reshuffle, the Republic of Ireland international's every touch was greeted with a chorus of disapproval from the home support.

For the most part he carried out his defensive duties well, although notably one of Newcastle's best first-half chances was fashioned along Fulham's left flank, Danny Simpson delivering an inviting ball into the six-yard box for Lovenkrands.

That the opening came to nothing was down to Hughes, who nipped in ahead of the Denmark international to clear the danger.

It was one of several incisive contributions from the erstwhile Magpies centre-half, who had likewise denied Lovenkrands in the opening minutes, nipping in to clear Jose Enrique's centre after the Spaniard had rounded the statuesque Stephen Kelly.

In terms of keeping Newcastle at bay, Hughes was outshone only by the unlikely figure of Nolan, who inadvertently got in the way of a meaty effort from Carroll following a Guthrie corner.

Schwarzer got down well to obstruct the progress of Lovenkrands' follow-up effort, and that was about as near as the home side got before the break.

Not so Fulham, who overcame a slow start to make life increasingly eventful for Krul in the Newcastle goal.

Having got down bravely to deny Clint Dempsey from a corner, the Dutch keeper was forced to turn behind a low Zoltan Gera effort before beating away another curling attempt from Dempsey.

Fulham's best chance to break the deadlock came on the stroke of half-time, when it took a late intervention from Cheik Tiote to defuse a promising counter-attack led by Andrew Johnson, who looked impressive on his first league start for 21 months.

If that moment augured well for Fulham, it was Chris Hughton's team who looked the likelier after the break.

Lovenkrands forced Schwarzer into a sprawling save with a low near-post drive, and the big Australian again got down smartly to gather a drilled 20-yard effort from Carroll.

But Newcastle, who were denied by the Fulham keeper again after Guthrie had found Lovenkrands with a searching cross from deep, were clearly missing the midfield invention of the suspended Barton.

That point was underlined five minutes from time when Carroll was again denied, Brede Hangeland making a vital block, although it would have been harsh had Fulham been denied a merited point at that late stage.