Lobo 22 Mar 2008, 17:01
Newcastle Utd 2-0 Fulham
Fucking get in there 
Newcastle United 2-0 Fulham
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7298208.stm
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Goals from Mark Viduka and Michael Owen were enough to hand Newcastle their first win in 13 and boss Kevin Keegan's first on his return against Fulham.
Viduka struck in the sixth minute when he collected a pass from Geremi and fired low past goalkeeper Kasey Keller.
Michael Owen should have doubled their lead with a close-range header before nodding in from Geremi's free-kick.
Jimmy Bullard had Fulham's best chances but his long-range efforts were comfortably dealt with by Steve Harper.
The victory will be a massive relief to Newcastle and in particular Keegan who was already a hot favourite with some bookmakers to get the boot before the end of the season.
But for struggling Fulham the signs seem ominous.
The visiting team were gifted enough possession during the first half but time-and-time again failed to come up with the killer ball.
Their downfall was self-inflicted at the other end of the field where Roy Hodgson's men produced a display that could politely be described as inept and in the sixth minute Viduka took advantage of that.
The Australian, who had not played for nine weeks prior to last week's draw at Birmingham, controlled Geremi's pass from the right, turned then drilled his shot into Kasey Keller's bottom right.
Owen, the hero at St Andrew's should have made it 2-0 but he could only head Geremi's clipped ball into the hands of Keller after finding himself inexplicably free eight yards out.
The England striker also had a 20-yard shot tipped over by the American shot-stopper who then had to be alert to divert Obefemi Martins' low effort round the post.
Newcastle keeper Harper had his hands kept warm on a wintery Easter Saturday by the spirited Bullard, who fired in a couple of shots from distance that the North East keeper had to crouch down low to save.
Keegan's men, who looked edgy in the first half despite taking an early lead, were far more confident after the break although shots on goal were few and far between.
They always looked potent though and Barton, who along with Nicky Butt was one of the stars of the show, came closest to doubling his side's lead when he whacked a 20-yarder that missed Fulham's right-hand upright by a foot.
The result was still in doubt until the 83rd minute when Owen leapt above Fulham defence to score his second in two games.
And with that, some of those growing concerns on Tyneside seemed to drift away.
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Newcastle: Harper, Beye (Edgar 87), Taylor, Faye, Jose Enrique, Geremi, Butt, Barton, Owen, Viduka (Smith 84), Martins (N'Zogbia 74).
Subs Not Used: Forster, Carroll.
Goals: Viduka 6, Owen 83.
Fulham: Keller, Stalteri (Healy 84), Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Andreasen, Bullard, Murphy (Volz 71), Davies, McBride (Dempsey 66), Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Bocanegra.
Booked: Volz.
Att: 52,293
Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
