Saturday afternoon’s match ended Newcastle 2 Fulham 1.
Before each match, we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives after the match.
Plenty to talk about after this one!
On this occasion it is ‘Matt Busby said to Joe Harvey…’:
POSITIVE
Osula
The boy didn’t have long to make an impression, but he made an impression nonetheless, with his constant heckling and running around the box leading to his parried shot putting Bruno on the tee for the winner.
Well done Will, often maligned, but just like that equalizer at home to the Scousers, his contribution on Saturday was enormous.
Three points
We worked hard on it, but we finally got there.
We missed some really big chances, hitting the woodwork twice and their keeper made some excellent saves, with Tonali being the favorite late in the day.
It should have been a comfortable win against a very physical Fulham, but the headlines will instead dwell on that injury-time strike from Bruno.
We know that it is not easy when the opponent has rest and time on the training field during the week, but that is now the norm for us and we have to get used to it.
On Wednesday we will defend our Carabao Cup again.
Captain Fantastic
Aren’t we simply short of superlatives when it comes to our number 39?
He is the lifeblood of that team, an adopted Geordie who gives his all and never gives up, and I’m not just talking about the fact he scored the winner yesterday. What a party!
Our captain fantastic!
NEGATIVES
Passing by wandering
There were too many incorrect passes at yesterday’s exhibition for my taste.
We need to cut them away as quickly as possible.
The man in the middle
Peter Bankes was terrible.
Fulham decided that with this clown in charge, after a late swap for Tony Harrington, their best tactic was to continually insult people in black and white shirts.
Big Nick in particular had to endure more than just the shirt-pulling and devious swipes from Fulham’s centre-backs, without any intervention from the hapless Bankes.
Make no mistake, we won yesterday despite that referee.
The table should look much better
I’ve heard quite a bit of criticism of NUFC in the Premier League this season, and on the face of it, three wins, three draws and three defeats isn’t the best form.
That it is an identical record to this time last season should give us some encouragement. In fact, after nine games last season our goal difference was even worse (-1 versus +1).
The real negative is that we should still have at least four points on the board.
I think we should have taken a point from both Liverpool and Arsenal and at least two more points if we failed to win at Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth, take your pick.
The reality is that yesterday’s win should have propelled us into the top four.
Newcastle 2 Fulham 1 – Saturday 25 October 2025 3pm
(Statistics via BBC Sports)
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Murphy 18, Bruno 90
Fulham:
Luke 56
Possess was Newcastle 51% Fulham 49%
Total shots were Newcastle 18 Fulham 12
Shots on target were Newcastle 7 Fulham 5
Corners were Newcastle 4 Fulham 3
Touches in the box Newcastle36Fulham25
Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman (Schar 61), Burn, Bruno, Joelinton, Miley (Tonali 61), Gordon (Elanga 76), Woltemade (Osula 86), Murphy (Barnes 61)
subtitles:
Ramsdale, Krafth, Willock, Ramsey
(BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Interesting on Newcastle United after 2-1 win over Fulham – Read HERE)
(Newcastle 2 Fulham 1 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)
(Newcastle 2 Fulham 1 – Match ratings and commentary on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)
#positive #negative #points #Newcastle #Fulham