Fulham 0, Newcastle United 1

Dec 16 2007 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

AFTER 90 minutes which dragged on like Christmas at the in-laws, a moment of youthful impetuosity gift-wrapped United three precious points.

Elliot Omozusi’s injury-time lunge at Alan Smith offered Newcastle the chance of three points which they, if not their fans, barely deserved.

And, in a match badly lacking the X Factor, Joey Barton duly made his mark from the spot to send 5000 travelling Tynesiders wild.

Grim as the game had been though – and unexpected as its late twist was – the Magpies headed home celebrating more than just victory.

For a first Premier League clean sheet on their travels for 13 months was a cause for celebration in itself.

Though there was precious little about Newcastle to excite yesterday, there was cause for admiration.

And Sam Allardyce will answer critics of his side’s lack of flair by pointing to the other end product of a performance of less style than substance: a first away win since the season’s opening day.

True, save for an opening flurry from United, Fulham pressed harder for victory than the visitors.

But Lawrie Sanchez’s strugglers did so with such dismal desperation that their howls of protest over Newcastle’s penalty sounded hollow.

United may have been feeble up front themselves – Oba Martins and, until his key contribution late on, Smith struggled badly – but were rarely flustered at the back.

And on the fleeting occasion when Fulham truly threatened, the returning Claudio Cacapa was almost invariably on hand to thwart them.

Back after a five-game absence, the Brazilian showed his class.

And considering his last game was THAT performance against Portsmouth, he showed character aplenty too.

A hamstring strain for Steven Taylor hastened Cacapa’s return to the starting XI.

United were otherwise unchanged from the side which began against Birmingham.

Yet they began more positively than they had a week earlier, forcing five corners in the opening seven minutes – and so nearly making one count.

The second of Geremi’s deliveries from the left wing skimmed off the head of the unmarked Barton, with home keeper Antti Niemi exposed.

Relieved to survive that early siege, Fulham finally broke out – and almost scored from their first meaningful attack.

Geremi surrendered possession in midfield, and when the ball finally found David Healy, the Ulsterman took aim at the far corner, only for Shay Given to turn the ball aside.

Newcastle’s keeper was less assured seconds later as he seemingly slid out of his area with the ball in his hands, to the supreme indifference of referee Howard Webb.

United almost made good Given’s escape when, from James Milner’s 15th-minute cross, Barton powered in a header which was well parried low down by Niemi, who saw Steven Davis clear the loose ball.

To describe the next 20 minutes as uneventful would be kind. And when I say kind, I’m talking Mother Theresa.

Charles N’Zogbia finally cut through the chill, first clearing Hameur Bouazza’s cross from danger, then providing an inswinging free kick, which flew just too high for an again unchallenged David Rozehnal.

Half-time provided as much entertainment as the opening 45 minutes – and no little irony.

As Allardyce left the dressing room, he heard the natives chanting “You don’t know what you’re doing” at opposite number Sanchez.

Little wonder there was a grin on Big Sam’s face as well as a spring in his step as he trotted across the pitch in front of an appreciative away end.

The smile was so nearly wiped off his face straight from the restart, however, as Bouazza unleashed a cross-cum-shot which eluded Clint Dempsey by inches as it fizzed across the face of goal.

Fulham maintained a higher tempo, with Habib Beye and Rozehnal fortunate not to be punished for a lapse of concentration which brought Healy a sight of goal, but a powder-puff shot from the striker. With the traffic flowing one way, Allardyce threw on Emre for the trundling Geremi. United perked up immediately, and should have marked their improvement with a goal.

Emre won and took a free kick which he landed on a sixpence – or rather, Nicky Butt’s bald patch – in the box. Sadly, Butt’s header was directed straight at Niemi.

And that was an all-too-brief flourish in a grinding second-half display from United.

Leaving Mark Viduka on the bench for all but the final 13 minutes meant the Magpies lacked the physical presence up front to retain what possession they enjoyed.

But while Fulham’s pressure – if not their poise – increased, Faye stood up tall at the heart of the Magpies’ back four.

And he and his fellow defenders were almost rewarded soon after Viduka’s arrival.

Again, an inswinging free kick – from Milner – unnerved the home side, but Rozehnal saw his volley from beyond the far post fly agonisingly across goal.

Cacapa then got Smith out of jail – heading bravely clear after Bouazza had robbed the United striker.

Barton’s snap volley from the edge of the box extended Niemi as the clock counted down.

And then it happened.

Viduka threaded a ball into Smith in the box, and he touched it on to Milner an instant before being caught by Omozusi’s fateful lunge.

Contact may have been minimal, but the challenge was reckless.

And after Webb had shouted down Fulham’s appeals, Barton – with would-be penalty taker Martins off – seized the ball and coolly beat Niemi low to his left.

Christmas had come early.