Fulham 5 Newcastle United 2

Jan 22 2012 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

Danny Guthrie of Newcastle United celebrates his goal against Fulham

ONCE again craven at the Cottage, Newcastle United’s European tilt suffered a setback in a remarkable contest on the banks of the Thames.

Alan Pardew will lead his players on a sunshine break to Tenerife this week, partly to celebrate their fine form thus far. A dark cloud will follow the Magpies on their trek after this most extraordinary second-half collapse at a venue that has done them few favours down the years.

Heading into the break with the wind in their sails, the talk of the terraces was of an unlikely challenge for the Champions League when the clock crawled past quarter to four.

And why not? Confident Newcastle were in cruise control and a glance at the ‘in play’ standings showed faltering Chelsea just two points away in fourth.

From Milan to Morecambe, the second-half defensive effort would have barely graced a League Two game. Scratch that, it was Sunday league stuff as Davide Santon found himself hopelessly harassed by game-turning sub Andy Johnson – and Mike Williamson withered in the face of Fulham menace Clint Dempsey.

The embarrassing fare served up after the interval was comfortably the worst 45 minutes of Pardew’s reign so far – in equal parts inexplicable and excruciating. After bossing the contest during a solid first half, they wound up looking nervously over their shoulder every time a high and hopeful ball was played in the back fours direction.

The normally erudite Pardew was at a loss to explain it afterwards, but you can be sure the paint was peeling off the walls in the dressing rooms. It was made more frustrating by the fact no one, least of all the Newcastle boss, saw it coming. Sending his side out with a formation to match Fulham’s, he would have been delighted with the way his side kept Fulham at arm’s length for the first half.

Granted, they were soporific in front of goal until Danny Guthrie smacked a superb drive past David Stockdale a few minutes before half-time. But with a midfield and defence functioning so effectively, it didn’t seem as if their profligacy would matter much.

The more perceptive might have noted the impact of Johnson, astutely introduced by Martin Jol just before the break in place of Steve Sidwell.

He motored past Santon on the stroke of half-time and the one-eyed home crowd felt the Italian was lucky to stay on the pitch for a clumsy foul on the one-time England man.