Fulham picked up their first win in eight Premier League games at home to Newcastle United on Monday night, in the process consigning the Magpies to a further game without an away win all season.
Steve Sidwell opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a deflected strike, but Fulham should have been more goals up at the break.
Newcastle improved greatly in the second half and equalised through Hatem Ben Arfa. However, Hugo Rodallega's header was the last say and Fulham claimed a vital three points.
Here, Sports Mole analyses the 90 minutes.
Match statistics:
Fulham:
Shots 16
On target 7
Possession 49%
Corners 5
Fouls 13
Newcastle:
Shots 20
On target 13
Possession 51%
Corners 4
Fouls 11
Was the result fair?
It's hard to say, but it was, just about. Fulham probably should have been more than one up at half-time but Dimitar Berbatov was unable to add to Sidwell's strike. However, Fulham's wastefulness allowed Newcastle to recover well after the break, but Fulham defended well during the inevitable late onslaught – which is where many of Newcastle's shots on target came from.
Fulham's performance
Much better. In recent games their attack had seemed to lose its sparkle but the defensive woes were piling up. On Monday, with the return of Brede Hangeland, it was only Mark Schwarzer who failed to impress at the back. The inclusion of Rodallega alongside Berbatov was the deciding factor as the pair linked very well all night long.
Newcastle's performance
The cliched game of two halves. They could have been dead and buried before Fabricio Coloccini had a header cleared off the line, but after a change in formation they controlled for periods of the second half. However, when the vital time came to push for another equaliser there was just not enough spark once Ben Arfa was subbed off.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Hugo Rodallega: This could have gone to Sascha Riether or Hangeland, but for the way he linked the attack and stretched Newcastle all game long it has to go to the Honduran. He scored only his second goal for Fulham after some excellent movement from a Damien Duff free kick, but it was his contribution as the outlet for Fulham's second-half attacks that win his this prize.
Biggest gaffe
It wasn't a game full of mistakes, but this has to go to Schwarzer for his positioning for Newcastle's goal. He expected a cross from Ben Arfa and was in no-man's land when the shoot looped into the corner. His kicking was poor, too, which summed up a bad day at the office for the Fulham stopper.
Referee performance
Lee Mason had a superb game. He dished out no yellow cards, and nor were any needed. The game was played at a high tempo but in good spirit and while he could have gone to his pocket seemed to understand that it was only ever over-eagerness and nothing dirty from either side. He didn't have any huge calls to make, but he barely got a decision wrong all night.
What next?
Fulham: Fulham's festive schedule is currently looking a little more rosy. They face a short trip to Loftus Road next to face Queens Park Rangers in what will be a tricky game against local rivals needing a win.
Newcastle: The Magpies host Manchester City on Saturday with an increasing need to keep up their home form. City are reeling from the Manchester derby defeat so it's a huge test for Pardew's men.
Matt Domm
