There is a new found confidence amongst both players and fans this season, that this side on their day can take on anyone and win. The trip to Fulham was the first away game in a 2012 that has seen the side win all 3 fixtures. Craven Cottage, one of the few traditional grounds remaining in the division, has been a relatively unhappy destination for us in recent years, with only 3 points from a possible 15 in the last 5 years. That victory coming from a Joey Barton penalty after a truly woeful game under the management of Sam Allardyce. This current side doesn’t have many of the negative characteristics of previous years though. They are organised, committed, and desperate to win games of football. This was reflected in the team selection.

Frenchman and Flexibility

It was a huge bonus to see Cabaye back in the side after he departed on a stretcher last week, when I first saw the tackle I feared it could be a really nasty one. Of course his departure on Sunday proved to be game changing, with the introduction of Ben Arfa who also started, and impressed once again. It was a well deserved lead at the interval, dominant in possession with 62% compared to 38% for Fulham and with 6 shots to their 1. Guthrie has looked good under Pardew and was key in the win last week. It’s probably fair to describe his strike shortly before the break as an absolute screamer. If anything I found myself a little disappointed that we were only 1-0 up.

For me Santon was lucky to stay on the pitch for bringing down Johnson shortly before half time. This isn’t necessarily because I believe it was a clear cut red card. It’s more to do with the fact that the idea of what constitutes a ‘goalscoring opportunity’ is still a grey area, particularly at that distance from goal. As well as that there is the Lee Mason factor, who I consider to be one of the poorest, if not the poorest referee currently officiating in the Premier League. Something he confirmed later with a debateable penalty decision, not helped by a lack of intervention from his assistant.

In the first half Pardew once again showed himself to be tactically shrewd. Not only does he get the best out of his players in terms of effort and commitment, he’s able to utilise them in positions other than those that they are most commonly found in. With Cabaye and Guthrie holding in centre midfield he is able to switch between a traditional 4-4-2 with Best alongside Ameobi, to a 4-2-3-1 with Best, Gutierrez and Ben Arfa proving an effective trio. Not only does this allow us to play to our most effective, but also to combat any changes in shape from the opposition.

Control becomes capitulation

It is rare that once going ahead we go on to take nothing from a game but Fulham of course did come from behind to beat Arsenal here, who had dominated as the away side in the first half but had been unable to take their chances. We were to follow suit and to end up regretting not being more clinical whilst on top.

It was a defensive collapse that was hard to explain, Pardew suggested that we “took our foot off the pedal” which is very uncharacteristic for his Newcastle side. The penalty, as dubious as it was, gave Fulham a route back into the game. Santon was again lucky to stay on the pitch. He was poor, but he still looks like a superb signing from the performances he has put in so far. Krul could also have gone for his part in the second penalty.

Just as the dominant performance in the first half was a real team effort, so was the second half one. No one in particular can be singled out for criticism, they just didn’t do the basics like they can, allowing Fulham too much time and space on the ball. Andy Johnson looked dangerous, Dempsey clinical, and the tactical switch implemented by Jol at half time changed the game. Ben Arfa at least gave the travelling support something to cheer with another superb goal.

Pardew wont have been happy with that he saw, and he’ll let the team know it. They now head out to Tenerife before the FA Cup fixture next weekend, with efforts on the training ground sure to focus on ensuring we don’t see another defensive performance like that. I don’t think any criticism can be directed at him, when he sends them out after his half time team talk he has a right to expect more of the same from his players, for them to fall apart like they did is no reflection on the manager.

Many more performances like that in the first half and we can give ourselves a real good chance of getting European football back on Tyneside. Many more like the second half and we will end up disappointed that we weren’t able to capitalise on what has still been a fantastic season. I

Special mention to the travelling support who were once again a credit to the club. Outsinging the home support from start to finish.