Thursday Fulham Stuff (03.02.11)

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/02/fulham-newcastle-united-premier-league


Damien Duff strikes to lift Fulham and sink blunt Newcastle


Fulham 1 Duff 67 Newcastle United 0

David Hytner at Craven Cottage guardian.co.uk,

Wednesday 2 February 2011 22.00


Fulham's Clint Dempsey vies for possession with the Newcastle United full-back Danny Simpson. Photograph: Joe Giddens/Empics Sport

The travelling Newcastle supporters jeered him relentlessly for having the temerity to leave them. It was always going to be the way. There can be no doubting football's tribal loyalties. But this was not the post-script to Andy Carroll defection to Liverpool, rather the tale of Damien Duff's evening against his former club.

Duff is not fondly remembered at St James' Park – his performances saw to that - and his every touch drew boos from the visiting enclosure. But the Fulham winger revelled in the last laugh when his smart second-half finish gave his team all three points and helped them to maintain their recent momentum.

The goal was Route One. Danny Murphy's high ball caught out José Enrique and Duff muscled in to settle a contest that might earlier have had the Sky executives cursing, with the mikes turned off.

Where the first-half had been drab, the second was lively and Fulham might have added to Duff's goal but for Steve Harper saves from the debutant Gaël Kakuta, who appeared as a 71st minute substitute, Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele. Duff's first goal of the season proved sufficient.

Carroll's shadow had loomed large over this fixture; the build-up to it for Newcastle had been marked by shock and recrimination. Whose version of events did the supporters believe, Pardew's and that of the club or Carroll's? 'Judas Carroll' was one view on a banner in the away end.

It was easy to forget that Carroll had not played for Newcastle in January and he had not been expected to feature for at least another month because of a thigh injury. In his absence, the team had taken eight points from an available 12 and it might have been all 12 but for last-minute equalisers.

Pardew's men were charged with putting the off-field distractions behind them. The last thing that Pardew needed was to lose another striker but, following a shuddering aerial collision with Steve Sidwell in the 13th minute, Shola Ameobi was forced off. One or two Newcastle players were unhappy, feeling Sidwell had caught him with a stray elbow.

The match had promised much, with the two teams reasonably in-form and generally determined to play dynamic passing football. It is fair to say that it took a while to come to the boil. Set-pieces offered the most likely route to a goal in the first-half with Sidwell glancing a whipped free-kick delivery from Joey Barton just wide of his own goal. At the other end, Clint Dempsey battered a shot well wide of the near post, following a Danny Murphy free-kick.

Jonas Gutiérrez flickered for the visitors with his mercurial ability, while Moussa Dembélé looked Fulham's best bet to make something happen. But the first-half was characterised by gritty midfield battles rather than any great moments of inspiration. The half's only shot on target, a low drive from Sidwell that was routine fare for Steve Harper, arrived on 30 minutes.

Newcastle's travelling fans amused themselves by booing their former winger Damien Duff's every touch. It felt for long spells as though Fulham had used up all of their magic on Sunday in the FA Cup drubbing of Tottenham Hotspur.

There had been some discussion about whether Mike Williamson had held Brede Hangeland at two set-pieces but the hope at the interval was that better entertainment lay ahead. Mercifully, it did.

Duff ought to have scored on two occasions, the first after he robbed José Enrique and raced away only to be tackled by Williamson and the second, when he dragged woefully wide after Dempsey had got through.

There was greater intensity, particularly from Fulham and after Dempsey had forced Harper to tip over the crossbar, Duff struck. Newcastle's best moment was the substitute Nile Ranger's turn and shot, which Mark Schwarzer saved smartly, but Fulham were the better team.

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Fulham 1 Newcastle 0: Old boy Duff sinks toothless Toon


By Sportsmail Reporter


Last updated at 10:19 PM on 2nd February 2011

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Damien Duff twisted the knife into former club Newcastle after their striker misery deepened in Wednesday night's Barclays Premier League defeat at Fulham.

Duff netted his first league goal for almost a year to settle a tight affair and propel the in-form Cottagers to 12th in the table, one point behind their opponents.

Match-winner: Damien Duff (centre) celebrates his strike for Fulham

It was another night to forget for Newcastle, who lost Shola Ameobi to a suspected fractured cheekbone just 13 minutes in, less than 48 hours after selling star striker Andy Carroll to Liverpool.

Manager Alan Pardew, who hoped an unchanged line-up would prove it was business as usual at St James' Park, would have been without the injured Carroll tonight even had he stayed.

Newcastle could ill afford to lose another forward but that was exactly what happened when Ameobi took an elbow to the head in a challenge with Steve Sidwell after just 10 minutes.

Feel the pain: Ameobi suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone in the Fulham defeat
Three minutes of futile treatment followed before Ameobi was led down the tunnel and replaced by Nile Ranger.

The visitors had shown total commitment to that point, with Mike Williamson closely shadowing the in-form Moussa Dembele.

Duff's deflected shot and a weak Danny Simpson strike at the other end were the only efforts of note in the opening quarter, although Sidwell arguably saved a goal by flicking Joey Barton's free-kick behind.

One-on-one: Duff shoots past Newcastle keeper Steve Harper to score
Danny Murphy went close to sending Clint Dempsey clean through but Steve Harper was too quick off his line, while the goalkeeper also snaffled Sidwell's harmless long-ranger.
Newcastle's discipline began to waver and Simpson was booked just past the half-hour mark for hauling back the increasingly influential Dempsey, who also drilled narrowly wide from close range as Newcastle failed to deal with a Murphy free-kick.
Newcastle were briefly down to 10 men again before half-time thanks to another head injury, this time to Simpson.

Williamson produced a great block to deny Duff an early second-half opener but the winger should then have put Fulham ahead in the 50th minute when he prodded wide from barely three yards after Dempsey's shot was saved by Harper and deflected straight to the winger.

Aerial battle: Fulham's Brede Hangeland (second right) feels the force from Mike Williamson
Captain Kevin Nolan was booked for a rash tackle on Dembele but the visitors were starting to get a foothold in the game.

Leon Best nodded Danny Guthrie's cross off target and the recalled Chris Baird sent Jonas Gutierrez's wicked cross just the right side of his own post.
Williamson made a near-fatal error just past the hour when he gifted the ball to Duff and Dempsey unleashed a rising near-post drive which was tipped over by Harper.
More suicidal defending ultimately cost them in the 67th minute when Jose Enrique was too easily beaten by Duff to Murphy's 60-yard ball and the Irishman kept his cool to strike right-footed past Harper.
Fans' fury: the Toon faithful air their disappointment over Andy Carroll's mega-money move to Liverpool


Fulham boss Mark Hughes handed on-loan Chelsea winger Gael Kakuta his debut with 19 minutes remaining as Andy Johnson was withdrawn, while Newcastle threw on Peter Lovenkrands for Best. Baird's free-kick grasscutter was too close to Harper before the Fulham fans began to chant: 'There's only one Andy Carroll.'
Kakuta should have killed the game 10 minutes from time when he sidefooted Dembele's cross straight at Harper. And he was almost made to pay seconds later when Ranger forced Mark Schwarzer - a surprise starter four days after the end of Australia's Asian Cup campaign - into a brilliant point-blank smother from Nolan's cutback.
The chances kept coming and Dempsey shot too close to Harper and Kakuta saw his finish blocked after a brilliant, sweeping move.
Fulham ran down time by removing Murphy and Duff for Zoltan Gera and Simon Davies but they also went closest to another goal, with Dembele prodding too close to Harper.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1352995/Fulham-1-Newcastle-0-Old-boy-Duff-sinks-toothless-Toon.html#ixzz1CqKlM0UL

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http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3387269/Fulham-1-Newcastle-0.html

Fulham 1 Newcastle 0

By ANDREW DILLON

Published: 02 Feb 2011


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ALAN PARDEW must be the only bloke in England to have £35million in his pocket and the raging hump.

The Newcastle manager's week took another downward turn as his bid to show there is life after Andy Carroll hit the buffers.

While Carroll was being unveiled at Anfield, his old club were hit by a double whammy.

Former Toon winger Damien Duff scored the decisive goal against his former employers, which earned a vital three points for Fulham.

And striker Shola Ameobi was forced off after only 12 minutes with a suspected fractured cheekbone after a clash with Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell.

With Carroll gone and Ameobi crocked for possibly six weeks, the Toon's forward line suddenly looks worryingly threadbare.

And while Pardew has plenty of cash, there's nothing he can do with it until the summer.

Newcastle's encouraging return to the Premier League this season could soon grind to a halt - or even worse - as a mood of despondency gathers around St. James' Park over Carroll's move.

Pardew said: "It was a factor on the game. I won't shy away from that. Our fans could have given the team and me a much harder time than they did.

"The diagnosis on Shola is not good. He has a dent in his cheekbone which suggests a fracture.

"I haven't seen the challenge again but I know Steve Sidwell well, and he isn't malicious in any way, shape or form."

On the game, Pardew added: "The pitch didn't help but we lost our way.

"I'm delighted with the honesty of our performance but we lacked a 'Je ne sais quoi' and I think Fulham did too until the goal.

"The strikers were not as good as they have been. Young Nile Ranger has got a lot to learn and Leon Best did not have a good night.

"Maybe there's some added pressure on them. They're going to have to deal with it.

"It's fair to say it'll be a steep learning curve."

The pain being felt by the Newcastle fans after Carroll's controversial sale and the first defeat of 2011 will be matched by that in Ameobi's face this morning.

His chance to step up in the wake of Carroll leaving was cut cruelly short by his clash with Sidwell, which was a total accident. Sidwell's arm was raised only for balance as the pair challenged for a high ball.

But the clash left the Toon striker poleaxed for several minutes.

Tempers frayed as Fulham striker Andy Johnson demanded ref Mike Jones turf the stricken player on to the touchline to allow play to resume, infuriating Toon skipper Kevin Nolan.

That was about as much adrenaline as we saw from Newcastle all night.

Apart from sub Ranger's late shot, which forced Mark Schwarzer to make a save, there was precious little to encourage Toon for the rest of the season.

For Fulham, Duff made it five home wins in a row to underline boss Mark Hughes' claim that once he cleared the injury list things would improve after a winter flirtation with relegation.

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It was Duff's first Premier League goal of the season and the 67th-minute winner was particularly sweet for the Toon old boy.

He wriggled free of left-back Luis Enrique to race on to a lofted pass from Danny Murphy and slotted the ball under Steve Harper.

Duff said: "I had been getting a bit of stick all night, I didn't have the best time up there at Newcastle but that was my first goal of the season.

"It's taken a while and I'm overjoyed to get three points for the team after a difficult first half of the season."

Clint Dempsey also went close and Harper made a string of good saves to at least give his side half a chance to grab something from the game.

Fulham chief Hughes said: "We want people to come here thinking they are not going to get an easy ride.

"We want them to be fearful. That's five wins on the bounce at home for us but players have come back.

"Newcastle came to stop us playing our game. Yes, the pitch isn't ideal but the ball wasn't on it much in the first half anyway, so it didn't really make a difference."

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

STAR MAN - STEVE SIDWELL (Fulham)

FULHAM: Schwarzer 6, Pantsil 6, Hughes 6, Hangeland 6, Baird 6, Dempsey 6, Sidwell 8, Murphy 7, Duff 7, Andrew Johnson 5, Dembele 6. Subs: Kakuta (Johnson) 5, Davies (Duff) 5, Gera (Murphy) 5. Not used: Stockdale, Salcido, Greening, Kamara.

NEWCASTLE: Harper 7, Simpson 5, Williamson 5, Coloccini 5, Jose Enrique 5, Barton 5, Nolan 6, Guthrie 6, Gutierrez 5, Best 5, Ameobi 5. Subs: Ranger (Ameobi) 5, Lovenkrands (Best ) 5. Not used: Krul, Campbell, Perch, Shane, Richardson. Booked: Simpson, Guthrie, Nolan.

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/8299733/Fulham-1-Newcastle-United-0-match-report.html#

Fulham 1 Newcastle United 0: match report


Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Fulham and Newcastle United at Craven Cottage on Wednesday Feb 2 2011, kick-off 20.00 GMT.
      
FULHAM1 - 0 FT NEWCASTLE Wednesday, February 02 20:00
Premier League
Craven CottageDuff (67) (HT 0-0)
ATT: 25,620 



10:09PM GMT 02 Feb 2011

Mike Ashley, the Newcastle United owner, is a famously enthusiastic casino gambler and, at Craven Cottage on Wednesday night, his decision to sell Andy Carroll was increasingly made to feel like a £35million game of roulette.

Not only did this 1-0 defeat against Fulham narrow the gap between Newcastle and the relegation zone to six points, but there are mounting fears that Shola Ameobi, the club's second most prolific forward this season, has broken a bone in his cheek.

"The diagnosis isn't good — he has a dent in his cheekbone that suggests he has fractured it," said Alan Pardew, the Newcastle manager. "We will have to wait but, if it is a fracture, the diagnosis would be between a month and six weeks [out]."

Ameobi suffered his injury after just 13 minutes to leave various combinations of Leon Best, Nile Ranger and Peter Lovenkrands — five league goals between them all season — to forage away to predictably negligible effect.

"The strikers tonight weren't as good as they have been," said Pardew. "Nile has got a lot to learn. Leon Best, unfortunately for him, did not have a good night.

"Maybe there was an added pressure on him and he has to deal with that. He is not a young player and is the one who has to come to the fore."

Pardew also conceded that Carroll's departure had impacted upon preparations, although he insisted that his actual absence here was "irrelevant" given that he had been injured and missed their unbeaten start to the year.

The problem, however, is not simply the loss of Carroll, the player, but the intangible impact it could have on the club's collective psyche.

Fulham supporters understood this and gleefully taunted their Newcastle counterparts with the observation that there is 'only one Andy Carroll'.

And, for most of the night, the most pertinent question was not whether Newcastle would actually score in the absence of Carroll, but if Fulham would punish their impotence.

They did, eventually, and it was somehow predictable that Damien Duff, who was booed mercilessly by the Newcastle fans, should inflict further pain on his former club by scoring the game's winner.

Duff spent three years at Newcastle but his most notable contribution was scoring the own goal that finally confirmed their relegation from the Premier League in 2008-9.

"There were a few reasons [for the celebration]," said Duff. "I didn't have the best of times at Newcastle; and I was getting a bit of stick out there."

After flirting with the relegation zone for so much of the season, Fulham are enjoying a fruitful 2011 both on and off the pitch.

The additions of Steve Sidwell, Gael Kakuta and Eidur Gujohnsen have been carefully calculated to add ready-made quality in positions of weakness and, with key players now finally returning from injury, there has been an increasingly settled feel to Mark Hughes' team.

Sidwell, in particular, has added steel to their central midfield alongside Danny Murphy and their initial influence was considerable last night as Fulham assumed control.

Andy Johnson cleverly overlapped beyond Damien Duff to create the first clear chance, with his ball across the six-yard box was only narrowly missed by Clint Dempsey.

Several other half-chances fell to Dempsey but, for Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper, the only save of real note during the entire first-half was from Sidwell's low skidding drive.

The former Chelsea and Aston Villa midfielder also demonstrated his defensive importance to Fulham, particularly from set-pieces where Joey Barton's precise delivery caused the majority of Newcastle's most threatening moments.

A third facet to Sidwell's game, however, was rather less appealing, with his elbow inadvertently Ameobi in the head as they both jumped for the ball.

Replays suggested that Sidwell had been careless rather than malicious, but the contact was still sufficient to force Ameobi off with the suspected cheek fracture.

Fulham maintained their control of possession but began the second-half with added purpose. Duff's willingness to run at defenders was causing a particular problem to Enrique and he caught the Newcastle left-back in possession only to delay his shot just long enough for Mike Williamson to cover.

He was presented with an even better chance moments later but, on this occasion, rushed his finish after Dempsey's shot had pin-balled between Harper and Danny Guthrie and then into his path.

It briefly appeared as if Newcastle's might scrape a point but Duff pounced on another mistake from Enrique to collect Murphy's through-ball and guide his finish past Harper.

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http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/duff-fires-fulham-past-toothless-newcastle-2202687.html#

Duff fires Fulham past toothless Newcastle

Fulham 1 Newcastle United 0

By Mark Fleming at Craven Cottage


Thursday, 3 February 2011

Just as the Toon Army were getting used to life without one hero, another former favourite turned up to rub salt in their open wounds. Damien Duff had not scored a goal all season for Fulham, which perhaps made his 67th minute winner all the more painful for the large contingent of travelling fans.

In Newcastle United's first game since the sudden £35m departure of local hero Andy Carroll, the away fans turned their anger and frustration on the figure of Duff, who was booed throughout. The reception appeared to inspire Duff, whose goal proved to be the difference between the teams, and earned Fulham their fourth victory in their last seven Premier League games, a run which has seen them edge away from the relegation zone.

Plenty of people have had their say about the Carroll transfer on Tyneside, and following the recent explanations provided by the player and his former manager Alan Pardew in the past two days, it was the turn of the Newcastle supporters who had made the long trip to Fulham to deliver their verdict. 'Judas Carroll' read one banner held up before kick-off, demonstrating the supporters had not bought the line being put out by their former favourite that he was driven out of the club against his will.

Newcastle began badly, with the loss of Shola Ameobi to injury inside the first ten minutes. Steve Sidwell jumped for the ball and his elbow caught the back of Ameobi's head. The clash appeared to be accidental but the former England Under-21 international was replaced by Nile Ranger.

Newcastle came into the game having won eight points from a possible 12 since Carroll last played for the club before he was sidelined with a thigh injury. However they met a Fulham side on a high following Sunday's 4-0 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur and it was the home side who made the early running. Mousa Dembele looked sharp in attack while in midfield Sidwell joined forces with captain Danny Murphy to dominate possession.

Fulham however struggled to translate their football into chances, their best in the first half being a low shot from Sidwell that Steve Harper in the Newcastle goal saved with ease.

Fulham started the second half with renewed purpose, and Duff twice went close; Mike Williamson slid across to block his first shot and moments later the Irishman missed the target after Clint Dempsey's shot from a tight angle ricocheted into his path.

Harper's save to deny Dempsey after 63 minutes was even better. There was little he could do however when Fulham took the lead four minutes later. The Newcastle defence were dozing as Murphy clipped a long ball forward and Duff outpaced Jose Enrique to poke the ball past Harper.

Fulham had plenty of chances to make the win more convincing. Gael Kakuta, on his debut for the club following his loan from Chelsea, fired straight at Harper when it seemed easier to score. The talented young Frenchman then slipped Dempsey through, but Harper saved well.

Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Baird; Duff (Davies 87), Murphy (Gera 87), Sidwell, Dempsey; A Johnson (Kakuta 71), Dembele. Substitutes not used Stockdale (gk), Salcido, Kamara, Greening.

Newcastle (4-4-2): Harper; Simpson, Williamson Coloccini, Enrique; Barton, Guthrie, Nolan, Guiterrez; Ameobi (Ranger 13), Best (Lovenkrands 72). Substitutes not used Krul (gk), Campbell, Perch, Ferguson, Richardson.

Referee M Jones (Chester).

Man of the Match Dembele.

Match Rating 5/10.

Attendance 25,620.

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http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/174925/FULHAM-1-NEWCASTLE-0-Duff-makes-it-toon-and-gloom-/

FULHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 0: DUFF MAKES IT TOON AND GLOOM


By Paul Brown


FULHAM 1 -- NEWCASTLE 0



DAMIEN DUFF piled more misery on Newcastle at the start of their post-Andy Carroll era.

The former Geordie favourite was booed all game by the Toon Army.

But he fired the only goal of the night in the 67th minute, taking a Danny Murphy long ball in his stride and turning Jose Enrique before firing home right-footed.

Newcastle looked short of options without £35m Carroll and were lucky not to concede a penalty when Mike Williamson twice fouled Brede Hangeland in the box.

The 'Judas Carroll' banner was predictable but feelings on Tyneside are mixed about the departure of the England striker to Liverpool.

There were just as many Geordies inside Craven Cottage who blamed unpopular owner Mike Ashley for Carroll's shock deadline day sale.

They wanted to see the money from the striker's exit pumped back into the club, but there was no big-name replacement on show last night.

Newcastle began with Leon Best and Shola Ameobi up front together – not a forward line to strike fear into Fulham hearts.

Toon went into the game unbeaten in the top flight this year, but their cause wasn't helped when Ameobi was forced off with a suspected broken jaw in the 15th minute to be replaced by Nile Ranger.

Fulham recalled Mark Schwarzer in goal after his Asia Cup jaunt with Australia.

That was a little harsh on stand-in keeper David Stockdale, who kept three clean sheets in the six matches he started in Schwarzer's absence.

The Cottagers seem to have finally found their feet under Mark Hughes and were hoping to build on a recent revival helped by the return to fitness of key players.

Money may be tight for Hughes but Fulham did manage to bring in a few new signings of their own before the transfer window slammed shut.

There was no place for Eidur Gudjohnsen in the squad, but Chelsea loanee Gael Kakuta was on the bench and Steve Sidwell started.

The night didn't begin well for Sidwell though, who was lucky not to deflect Joey Barton's in-swinging free-kick into his own net with a misplaced header in the early stages.

He then whipped in a shot at the other end which warmed the hands of Newcastle keeper Steve Harper, who was not exactly a busy man in the first half.

Hughes wanted a penalty for a clumsy challenge by Mike Williamson on Brede Hangeland, but referee Mike Jones was unmoved.

Clint Dempsey flashed a close-range shot wide of the upright from a pinpoint Murphy free-kick but it was tight and timid stuff.

Williamson then got away with another shirt-pull on Hangeland as the big defender went up for a Murphy cross at the far post, the referee ignoring Fulham appeals.

But it was scrappy, niggly stuff with chances few and far between at either end as the two sides battered away without any clear-cut chances.

Maybe the fans inside the Cottage should have seen that coming after the two teams battled each other to a standstill in a goalless draw at St James's Park in November.

Fulham may have battered Spurs here last time out, but there was no Dawson in Newcastle colours to help them on their way this time.

Hughes was becoming more and more frustrated, pacing around in his technical area waving his arms around at what he thought was Newcastle time-wasting.

Duff made a burst down the right but could not get his shot away before the Newcastle defence rallied to clear the danger.

Hughes had to fight off interest in the veteran from Blackburn during the window, revealing he ignored all calls from the Irishman's old club.

Duff went agonisingly close in the 50th minute when the ball fell to him on the edge of the six-yard box.

Dempsey forced a fine save from Harper, who could only parry the ball back into the danger area, but Duff somehow stabbed it wide with the goal gaping.

Duff shook his head in disbelief but he had the last laugh to end a bad week for the Toon Army.

[White Noise]

Duff haunts Newcastle

Thursday, 3 February 2011


Fulham 1 Newcastle 0:


Fulham captain Danny Murphy admitted his side had been flat against Newcastle — but was pleased to see the Cottagers grind out a 1-0 home victory.

Former Magpie Damien Duff, who missed a glorious chance in the first half, grabbed the only goal of the game after 67 minutes as the hosts moved up to 12th in the Barclays Premier League.

Murphy said: "Without making excuses we had a tough game at Anfield last week and against Tottenham on Sunday, and to keep churning out performances is difficult. But in the second half we turned it around a bit.

"We were a bit flat and Sunday's win over Tottenham was such a fantastic display that there is a danger you think it will happen again.

"But also credit to Newcastle, they showed great spirit after a tough few days, losing their best player. But we have played better recently and lost games so we were due a scrappy win."

Duff said: "I had been getting a bit of stick all night, I didn't have the best time up there but that was my first goal of the season.

"It's taken a while and I'm overjoyed."



Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/duff-haunts-newcastle-15072114.html#ixzz1CsAKB8nR

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http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/fulham-newcastle-8383264/

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Hughes interview -

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/hughes-pleased-deserved-win-8383412/

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http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6719337,00.html


Fulham form delights Hughes

Cottagers boss happy with success over Newcastle


Last updated: 2nd February 2011   


Fulham manager Mark Hughes is thrilled with his side's form following their 1-0 success over Newcastle on Wednesday.

Damien Duff scored the only goal of the game in the second half to give the Cottagers all three points on home soil.

After being stifled in the opening period, Hughes was pleased his side were able to adapt and finally secure the points through Duff.

Hughes has never been worried by Fulham's slow first half of the campaign as he knew he had players in the treatment room on the mend.

Delighted
"I have to say we're delighted with the result," he told Sky Sports.

"In fairness to them in the first half they did a little bit of a job on us and stopped us playing our natural game so we had to play a different game, compete and earn the right to win. In the second half that's what we did.

"I think that's five wins on the bounce now at home. I knew in the New Year we'd come good because I was getting players back. I been here for a few months now and things we're been working on are coming to the fore.

"It's never been a worry from my point of view. What we needed was positive results to settle everyone down and we're the form team at the moment.

"We've got big games from now until the end of the season. It'll be another test at the weekend, but I'm sure we'll be up for it."

.

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http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/fulham-1-0-newcastle/


Fulham 1-0 Newcastle

Filed under: Match reports — rich @ 11:08 pm

How sweet that must have felt for Damien Duff.    For an hour his every touch was jeered by his old audience; then his winning goal shut them up.    As we so often find ourselves saying, football, eh?

The highlight of the first half was my peanut butter sandwich.   So substantial was it that it took 25 minutes to work through, by which time nothing at all had happened on the pitch.    Newcastle squeezed the game and slammed into our players, closing them down super-efficiently and creating a mess of a match.    It felt like watching a Sam Allardyce side on a particularly determined day.

All of which left much for Fulham to do.  Murphy and Sidwell were keeping their heads above water, but only just.   AJ ran hard again, Dembele seemed to draw an awful lot of contact and everything seemed to be going through Duff rather than Dempsey, who barely had a touch.   Duff was going well, but so insistent were Newcastle's defenders that chances simply didn't materialise.

We saw a much better tempo in the second half and soon found ourselves in dangerous areas.   Dempsey started to lean on the last man looking for Murphy's balls over the top, and Sidwell and Murphy started to command the middle of the park.   Dembele, in a very different way to Sunday, really showed his worth; he has subtle leadership skills, and his presence is like having the coolest kid from the year above at school join in with your kick around.   Good things were starting to happen, notably when Dempsey went charging through on the inside left channel and fired off a shot which somehow ended up with Duff close in.   Regrettably the latter could only stab the rebound wide.    Gasp.

Then we did score.  Newcastle had been playing chicken with Murphy for a while, a daring high line that needed their midfield to keep up their frenetic work in denying our midfield time.   Perhaps they got tired, but the through balls started to come, and here was Duff clean through and there we were, 1 up.    No less than we deserved either.

Dempsey brought a couple more good saves out of Harper, who was having an important match for his team.   Newcastle didn't really have a counter-plan, and it really became a case of whether we'd get another.  Gael Kakuta was brought on to try, and looked lively enough, but that ended up being that.

Much to enjoy in the end, a slow burner that initially didn't seem to have lit at all, but which grew into a fair old tussle.   The referee didn't help, petty whistling giving the match an uneccessarily stop-start feel, but another important three points to keep this momentum going.   We feel like a good side again.

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http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6719371,00.html


Pardew bemoans below-par showing

Magpies boss felt something was lacking at Craven Cottage


Last updated: 2nd February 2011   


Alan Pardew felt Newcastle United were not at the races in their 1-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The Magpies huffed and puffed in West London but emerged with no points thanks to Damien Duff's second-half winner.

While Pardew was not happy with the Craven Cottage pitch, he felt his team did not have enough drive to claim all three points.

"I felt we didn't play enough at times. The pitch wasn't the best. It didn't help either team if I'm being honest," he told Sky Sports.

"We didn't threaten the goal enough tonight. Perhaps even though we've dug in tonight we could have done a lot better.

"There was a little bit missing tonight. We were a bit off on our passing, but so were they. The team who scored first would win.

"We were disappointed with that because we've defended well tonight. We got caught, it was our corner. We were left one-on-one at the back."

Injury set-back
Fresh on the back of Andy Carroll's sale to Liverpool, Newcastle's attacking options have been further depleted by Shola Ameobi's knock.

The club's long-serving hit-man suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone during the contest.

Pardew is refusing to point the finger at Carroll's exit as to root of their woes and is now looking for the side to kick-on.

"That obviously hasn't helped out cause," he added on Ameobi's injury. "We are really light now.

"We have to be careful that we put a system out on the pitch that gives us an opportunity to score goals.

"Shola's injury is a blow, there's no doubt about that.

"We had some good performances tonight. They didn't let us play much. It was a very tight and tense affair.

"We've got 30 points and we need to build on that. The fans understand there was a blow to us yesterday.

"We've got to make sure we get the points we need and push on."

[White Noise]

http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/02/02/murphy-makes-fulham-admission-64767-28106234/


Murphy makes Fulham admission

By Jacob Murtagh


Feb 2 2011

 
Danny Murphy


DANNY Murphy admits Fulham were below-par in tonight's win against Newcastle.

The Whites were playing their third game in eight days, but Damien Duff's second-half strike proved enough to see them to a fifth home win on the spin.

And the former Liverpool midfielder, who this week signed a new deal at Craven Cottage, was pleased with the way his side battled their way to victory.

He said: ``Without making excuses we had a tough game at Anfield last week and against Tottenham on Sunday, and to keep churning out performances is difficult. But in the second half we turned it around a bit.

``We were a bit flat and Sunday's win over Tottenham was such a fantastic display that there is a danger you think it will happen again.

``Credit to Newcastle, they showed great spirit after a tough few days, losing their best player.

``But we have played better recently and lost games so we were due a scrappy win.''


Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/02/02/murphy-makes-fulham-admission-64767-28106234/#ixzz1CsNyuOnX

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Alan Pardew targets Newcastle Premier League survival


Newcastle boss Alan Pardew says that his team must focus on reaching the 40-point mark, after the "gallant effort" in the 1-0 defeat at Fulham.

Video interview here -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/9385824.stm

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Fulham's Mark Hughes is pleased by 'deserved win'


Mark Hughes feels that his Fulham side is finally beginning to play to its potential after the hard-fought 1-0 win against Newcastle.

Video interview here -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/9385823.stm

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http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/football-ealing/fulham-fc-ealing/2011/02/02/fulham-boss-tips-chelsea-star-gael-kakuta-to-shine-82029-28106237/


Fulham boss tips Chelsea star Gael Kakuta to shine

Feb 2 2011

By Chris Slavin


Gael Kakuta

MARK Hughes has tipped Chelsea youngster Gael Kakuta to make a big impact at Craven Cottage after his impressive cameo against Newcastle United tonight.

The 19-year-old made his debut as a second-half substitute after joining on loan from Carlo Ancelotti's men last week.

And Fulham boss Hughes seen enough to predict big things during his stay at Fulham that lasts until the end of the season.

"I have been really impressed by him," Hughes said. "I was aware of him as a young player, but you need to work with a player closely and understand an individual and what he can bring in terms of skill and style of play.

"But straight awa as soon as he walked into the building you could tell he had quality, fantastic feet and great awareness, He could have scored one or two goals, but he created chances.

"He will have a decent impact against the right opposition."

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9385840.stm


Shola Ameobi injury rocks Newcastle boss Pardew  

Pardew targets Newcastle survival


Manager Alan Pardew has asked Newcastle fans to "rally" behind his side after striker Shola Ameobi suffered an injury that could keep him out for a month.

On Monday star striker Andy Carroll left for Liverpool and 10 minutes into the 1-0 loss at Fulham, Ameobi came off with a suspected fractured cheekbone.

"Shola's injury has not helped our cause, it's another blow following the one on Monday," said the Magpies boss.

"We need to rally together and I thank them for their support at Fulham."

Newcastle played most of the match with the largely untested pairing of Leon Best and substitute Nile Ranger in attack.

The duo failed to make much of an impact in a match that came to life in the second half.

But it was Fulham who dominated and created most of the chances on the night and should have scored more than the solitary goal delivered by the boot of Damien Duff.

"We did not play well enough tonight," added Pardew.

"The pitch was not the best and didn't help either team, but we did not threaten enough and we could have been a lot better.

"They didn't let us play much, it was a tight, tense affair. But we have Arsenal on Saturday and hopefully we will come away with better points."

Meanwhile, Fulham manager Mark Hughes said he was as pleased with his side's performance against the Magpies and he was when they beat Tottenham 4-0 in the FA Cup last weekend.

"We scored one, could've had a number of others, had good clear chances and could've won more comprehensively," stated the Welshman.

"Probably as pleased with the performance and result tonight as I was at the weekend."

"It was difficult for us in the first half. Newcastle came to stop us playing our normal game. They penned us in and, really, that wasn't the game that we wanted to play.

"Second half, we had to address that and make sure we imposed ourselves."

[White Noise]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9379947.stm


Fulham   1 - 0   Newcastle



Duff scores past former team-mate Steve Harper


By Saj Chowdhury 

Damien Duff scored against former club Newcastle to hand Fulham victory at Craven Cottage.

Duff grabbed his goal in the second half when he picked up a long ball from Danny Murphy, brushed off Jose Enrique, and slotted in from 12 yards.

Clint Dempsey was twice denied by Magpies keeper Steve Harper, who produced two brilliant saves.

Nile Ranger had Newcastle's best opportunity when his turn-and-shot was saved by Mark Schwarzer.

It was the only time the Australian keeper, who has just come back from Asian Cup duty, was called into making a save with his opposite number the far busier of the two.

But Harper only really earned his day's wages in the second half following an opening 45 minutes which saw only two clear-cut chances created.


Click to play
Click to play
Hughes pleased by 'deserved win'
The closest the home side came to opening the deadlock in that period was when the effervescent Dempsey smashed his shot from the edge of the six-yard area over the Newcastle bar.

Alan Pardew's Magpies, who had coped admirably during January without the now-departed and injured striker Andy Carroll, were dealt another setback in the forwards department in the 14th minute when a collision with Steve Sidwell resulted in Shola Ameobi coming off with what was later diagnosed as a suspected fractured cheekbone.

Ranger, his replacement, has yet to find his feet in black and white but he did make himself a nuisance when Joey Barton's in-swinging free-kick caused an uncertain Sidwell to head a yard past his own post.

That was the sum of the good chances in the half, but thankfully the match improved tenfold after the break.

Within five minutes of the restart, Harper pulled off a great low save from Dempsey on the left before Duff followed up by sidefooting the loose ball a yard wide of the other post.


Click to play
Click to play
Pardew targets Newcastle survival
Up the other end, Leon Best, who made his mark at Newcastle this season with a hat-trick against West Ham, twice came close, first when he failed to connect with Jonas Gutierrez's ball across the six-yard box before heading over from eight yards a minute later.

Despite those two chances, Fulham were looking the more assured with the ball at their feet.

Moussa Dembele, who set up the earlier chance, created the next opportunity for Fulham when he again found Dempsey on the left and the United States striker's vicious shot was brilliantly pushed over by Harper.

But a few minutes later, the Newcastle number one was given little chance of stopping Duff from scoring after the spritely midfielder dispossessed left-back Enrique and slotted in.

Fulham could have made the scoreline more handsome in the closing moments but Dempsey and Dembele were denied by Newcastle's man-of-the-match in goal.

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http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/02/02/2334811/fulham-manager-mark-hughes-delighted-following-his-sides-1-0-win-

Fulham manager Mark Hughes delighted following his side's 1-0 win over Newcastle


The hosts moved up to 12th following their victory at Craven Cottage


By Oliver Yew at Craven Cottage


2 Feb 2011 23:51:00


Fulham boss Mark Hughes was delighted with his side after they overcame a rugged Newcastle team thanks to Damien Duff's second half goal.

It was not an easy night for the Cottagers as Alan Pardew's side set out to stop Fulham playing but Hughes praised his side's character for turning the tide in the second-half.

He said: "It was difficult for us in the first half in fairness.

"Newcastle came to stop us playing our normal game, penning us in and Mark Schwarzer had to pump long balls.

"That wasn't the game we wanted to play so obviously we had to address that at half-time.

"We imposed ourselves in the second-half and played the way we wanted to play the game, creating chances and we got one and could have had others."

Despite Fulham's dominance in the second-half Newcastle had a glorious chance to equalise through Nile Ranger but Mark Schwarzer denied him with a good low save.

Hughes added: "In the end I was grateful for a great save by Mark Schwarzer at the death. So all in all it was a very pleasing performance and I am as pleased tonight as I was at the weekend."

Fulham moved up to 12th in the league with the win and have now won five matches on the spin at Craven Cottage. Hughes believes this is down to his sides hard work and determination to pull away from the drop zone.

He said: "We haven't thought about relegation for a number of weeks now.

"We are playing well and there are not many teams who have won as many as us of late, so in terms of form we are in a good place. "

The Fulham manager also insisted the FA Cup has been vital to his side's resurgence.

He added: "The FA Cup is a competition that is special to this country and i think it helps league form if you progress.

"That is what we want to do and it is what we will strive to do, if we can do it it may enhance our league form."

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http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/226826/Fulham-1-Newcastle-0-Poor-Pardew-Duffed-again/


FULHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 0: POOR PARDEW DUFFED AGAIN 

Thursday February 3,2011

By Frank Wiechula 


FULHAM 1 -- NEWCASTLE 0


NEWCASTLE'S misery  following this week's shock sale of talisman striker Andy Carroll was further compounded when Damien Duff inflicted their first league defeat in 2011 and they lost their most  experienced forward Shola Ameobi through injury.

Ameobi, one of the men Newcastle are relying on to replace the £35million Liverpool departure Carroll, went off with a fractured cheekbone after 13 minutes and Newcastle's luck didn't get any better.

Duff's first goal of the season, as Newcastle's defence was sliced open by Danny Murphy's lofted pass on 67 minutes, ended Toon's four-match unbeaten league spell and the Fulham fans taunted the visitors chanting: "There's only one Andy Carroll."

After the controversy and shock of Carroll's record-breaking sale to Liverpool, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew named an unchanged team from the side which drew at home to Tottenham last time out.

That meant Leon Best and Ameobi had the opportunity to show just what they could do without Carroll, following his departure to Anfield late on Monday's transfer deadline night.

The strikers aiming to keep Newcastle afloat amid the gloom caused by England man Carroll's exit were looking to find a way past Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer. He was recalled after his international stint with Australia, which ended with defeat to Japan in the final of the Asian Cup on Saturday.     

Schwarzer replaced David Stockdale, who had kept three clean sheets in the Australian's six-match absence, while new Chelsea loan capture Gael Kakuta was on Fulham's bench.

But Newcastle keeper Steve Harper started the busier of the two, having to punch out a dangerous corner from Murphy, conceded after Duff had a goal-bound drive deflected out.

And Newcastle right-back Danny Simpson did well to hold off Clint Dempsey on 10 minutes, when the American looked odds on to connect with Duff's piercing right-wing cross, some six yards in front of Harper's goal.

Newcastle threatened in the 21st minute when Joey Barton's left-wing free-kick arrowed into Fulham's penalty area, and a defensive header from Steve Sidwell sent the ball flashing inches past his own far post and out for a corner.

And the vigilant Harper did well on 28 minutes to rush out of his goal and hack clear as Dempsey hared in on goal after Murphy's through ball sent him free.

Then 60 seconds later, Harper again did well, diving low to hold on to a low, long-range Sidwell strike.

Newcastle right-back Simpson went into referee Mike Jones book for pulling back Dempsey, while the home fans called for a red, but it was never that severe.

There was another nervous moment in the away penalty box 10 minutes before the break.

Murphy's free kick fell to Dempsey, but, at the second attempt the American blasted into the side netting with Harper clambering to cover.

Simpson also needed some treatment in Newcastle's penalty-box after suffering a knock on the head.

Fulham boss Mark Hughes and the home fans felt they should have had a 42nd-minute penalty when Brede Hangeland went down from Mike Williamson's challenge after another Murphy free-kick following a tackle which earned Chris Guthrie a booking, but Jones waved the appeals away.

Williamson made a late, great saving block on the dangerous Duff as the Irishman prepared to pull the trigger from close range, 90 seconds after the restart.

Fulham defender Chris Baird had to clear hurriedly out for a corner, just two yards from his goal-line, as Best looked to pounce. Harper produced another spectacular save, tipping Dempsey's 64th minute rising left-footer over the bar one-handed, but their defence was breached three minutes later.

Murphy's sublime pass took out Newcastle's rearguard and Duff got in front of the floundering Jose Enrique to gleefully score his first goal of the season.

Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Baird; Duff (Davies 87), Sidwell, Murphy (Gera 87), Dempsey, Johnson (Kakuta 71), Dembele. Goal: Duff 67.

Newcastle United (4-4-2): Harper; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique; Barton, Nolan, Guthrie, Gutierrez; Best (Lovenkrands 72), Ameobi (Ranger 13). Booked: Simpson, Guthrie, Nolan.

Referee: M Jones (Cheshire



Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/226826/Fulham-1-Newcastle-0-Poor-Pardew-Duffed-again/Fulham-1-Newcastle-0-Poor-Pardew-Duffed-again#ixzz1CsTNq69y