Match Report Newcastle United (0) 1-0 (0) Fulham Premiership Match Day 20 22/23 at St. James' Park Sunday 15 January 2023    KO: 14:00 Referee: Robert Jones (Wirral) Live on Sky

Match Stats	Newcastle United	Fulham
Goals	(0) 1	0 (0)
Scorers	Isak 89	-
Goal attempts	20	5
On target	5	0
Shooting Accuracy	25%	0%
Possession	62%	38%
Passes Success	83%	70%
Corners	10	5
Tackles Success	62%	61%
Saves	0	4
Fouls	6	14
Offsides	2	3
Yellows	2	3
Reds	0	0
source: SkySports

Substitute Alexander Isak grabbed Newcastle a late 1-0 victory against Fulham after Aleksandar Mitrovic's converted second-half penalty was ruled out after the striker made contact with the ball twice.

Isak popped up in the 89th minute to head home from close range to break Fulham hearts and spark wild celebrations from the St James' Park crowd.

However, it could have been so different for Fulham, who will find defeat difficult to take. They were awarded a 68th-minute penalty following a lengthy VAR review after Kieran Trippier's challenge on Bobby Decordova-Reid just inside the penalty area.

Mitrovic dispatched the spot-kick past Nick Pope, but he did so illegally having slipped and made contact with the ball twice, so referee Robert Jones disallowed the goal.

It proved a return to Newcastle to forget for Mitrovic as Fulham, who stay sixth, saw their five-game unbeaten run in all competitions come to an end. But it could prove to be a crucial win for Newcastle, who were heading for a third straight 0-0 draw in the league, as they move back into third ahead of Manchester United on goal difference

Fulham started in confident fashion with the ball, showing they were not going to be intimidated by the St James' Park atmosphere. They were also alert at the back and Issa Diop got across to make a superb last-ditch block to deny Sean Longstaff a shot on goal.

Newcastle grew into the game and started creating opportunities as Tripper's cross picked out Callum Wilson, but the striker's header was straight at Bernd Leno.

There were concerns for Newcastle as Bruno Guimaraes appeared to roll his ankle in a challenge with Joao Palhinha. The Brazilian tried to run the knock off but appeared hampered for the rest of the half.

Newcastle continued to push forward in search of the opener, but Fulham held firm as Leno twice kept out strikes from Wilson, but there were still concerns for Guimaraes, who left the field in tears after the half-time whistle sounded.

Guimaraes did not appear for the second half, and he was replaced by Allan Saint-Maximin as Newcastle went in search of victory.

However, Wilson headed wide from a Trippier corner before Fabian Schar's powerful free-kick hit the upright. Those missed chances looked like they would prove to be costly after Fulham won a penalty midway through the second half for a foul by Trippier on Decordova-Reid, following a long VAR review.

However, Mitrovic slipped as he struck the spot-kick and the former Newcastle striker hit the ball against his standing foot before finding the net. The goal was correctly ruled out because he had struck the ball twice.

It looked like Newcastle would have to settle for a third successive Premier League goalless draw, but Isak arrived right on cue to head home the 89th-minute winner.

Fulham boss Marco Silva insists Dan Burn should have been shown a red card for his challenge on Andreas Pereira in the penalty area. Just before Fulham were given a penalty for Trippier's foul on Decordova-Reid, Pereira danced into the box past Burn, who did appear to leave an arm on him. The Fulham man went down, but nothing was given. VAR took a look but didn't intervene.

"So many things to say about the ref's performance. But first I will say that I am really proud of the players and my team. We had ambition, quality, desire and showed why we are doing so well this season.

"I have to say Newcastle's physicality and quality is really good. From the first minutes, we demonstrated our quality. We did not have enough time to prepare well after we had a tough, tough game 60 hours ago. Newcastle were much fresher than us. We never lost our organisation. We showed always that we were very compact as a block. Unlucky afternoon for us.

"The referee. It is a clear penalty, red card for the player and the game would be completely different. The fourth official gave it but the referee made his decision. On Andreas Pereira, it was clear that it was a red card. The red card would have made it completely different, with 10 men. I felt it from the first minute unfortunately.

"Credit to Newcastle, they are a really strong side as well. We missed a penalty and we should have attacked more. Credit to them for not giving us more chances. We knew that we could not press for the full 90 minutes. We were very unlucky this afternoon. Very unlucky the way we lost this game. It went against us."

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe reflects on his side's victory

"Certainly a crazy second half. A lot happened in it."

On the penalty: "I thought the first challenge could have been a penalty. That wasn't given. The second one I didn't think was but was bizarrely given. The double touch I couldn't see, but I was really pleased to see it go that way.

"These moments can sometimes do that [galvanise you]. Something happens, a flash point, we didn't concede. The crowd were really good for us from that moment on.

"The goal was a special moment. So pleased for Alex. You want to hit the ground running at a new club and he did before the injury. He had to wait and watch the team do well in his absence. He's worked hard. For these moments the work was worth it.

On Bruno Guimaraes' injury: "Bruno was very distressed. He was in a lot of pain. He twisted his ankle and felt he could run it off. In the end he needed to be withdrawn."

Newcastle United: Pope, Schar, Botman, Trippier, Burn, Longstaff, Willock (Isak 71), Guimaraes (Saint-Maximin 45), Almiron (Murphy 85), Joelinton, Wilson (Wood 96)

Unused substitutes: Lewis, Ritchie, Dubravka, Lascelles, Manquillo

Goals:
Isak 69 (Newcastle work it patiently and a deep ball to the back post is headed back across by Wilson who gets ahead of Diop. It presents Isak with the easiest headed finish from close range!)

Booked: Pope (69,tw)

Fulham: Leno, Tete, Diop (Vinicius 92), Ream, Kurzawa, Pereira (Adarabioyo 77), Willian (James 77), De Cordova-Reid (Wilson 92), Reed (Cairney 92), Palhinha, Mitrovic

Unused substitutes: Rodak, Solomon, Harris, Chalobah

Booked: Kurzawa (48,f), Ream (61,f), Pereira (63,f)

Referee: Robert Jones (Wirral)

Attendance: 52,247