Bruno Guimaraes has scored four goals in the Premier League this season
Bruno Guimaraes scored his fourth goal of the season as Newcastle beat Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The Brazilian struck the winner inside the last 10 minutes after good work from substitute Harvey Barnes, shortly after Fabian Schar had an effort ruled out for a foul in the build-up.
Newcastle are now one point adrift of sixth-placed Manchester United and firmly in the tussle for a place in Europe next season.
Willian, Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Muniz missed great chances for Marco Silva’s home side as Fulham stayed in 13th spot.
Fulham started the game brightly after a poor loss to Nottingham Forest during the week, but missed chances allowed Eddie Howe’s visitors to grow into the game.
Anthony Gordon, who returned to the Newcastle starting line-up after suspension, was a constant threat and came close to breaking the deadlock with a 20-yard drive that whistled inches wide.
Magpies eyeing a return to Europe
Behind Tottenham and Aston Villa’s battle for fourth place, the quest for lower-rung European football next season continues.
West Ham came from behind to win at Wolves to stay seventh, with the Hammers and Newcastle both closing in on a Manchester United side who face Liverpool on Sunday.
After a taste of the European experience in the Champions League earlier this term, Newcastle want and expect more of the same in years to come, although it is Europa League and Europa Conference League places they are contesting this time.
With injuries having ravaged Eddie Howe’s side for much of the season, the goal from Guimaraes was celebrated with huge amounts of joy and relief from the travelling fans.
After soaking up huge amounts of pressure from Fulham during the game, the Magpies proved they are up for this late-season mission.
What next for Fulham?
The loss to Newcastle leaves Fulham in lower mid-table, with their season apparently petering out.
At times this term, Marco Silva’s side have competed well with those higher up the league and the prospect of them challenging for a European spot in future has not seemed outrageous.
Not particularly known for his finishing, Palhinha had the best chance of the game for the Cottagers but could only stroke his effort wide from six yards.
After eight goals in nine Premier League matches, Muniz was expected to score when presented with a clear chance in the first half but his effort went straight at Martin Dubravka.
Results for Fulham have tailed off since a 3-0 win over Tottenham on 16 March. A 3-3 draw with bottom side Sheffield United was followed by the 3-1 loss to relegation-battling Forest on Tuesday.
Six points from those two games would have pushed Silva’s side into the mix for a European place, but they are seemingly now out of that picture.
With summer additions and Silva having more time to work with his squad, Fulham may feel a more sustained push for Europe will be realistic, having discovered the hard way the damage a late-season dip can cause.
Player of the match
Bruno GuimarãesBruno Guimarães
Fulham
Squad number19Player nameRodrigo Muniz
Squad number20Player nameWillian
Squad number10Player nameCairney
Squad number26Player nameJoão Palhinha
Squad number33Player nameRobinson
Squad number22Player nameIwobi
Squad number3Player nameBassey
Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira
Squad number17Player nameLeno
Squad number21Player nameCastagne
Squad number4Player nameTosin
Squad number8Player nameWilson
Squad number11Player nameTraoré
Squad number28Player nameLukic
Squad number9Player nameBroja
Squad number7Player nameJiménez
Newcastle United
Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães
Squad number15Player nameBarnes
Squad number10Player nameGordon
Squad number14Player nameIsak
Squad number5Player nameSchär
Squad number20Player nameHall
Squad number32Player nameAnderson
Squad number33Player nameBurn
Squad number1Player nameDúbravka
Squad number17Player nameKrafth
Squad number28Player nameWillock
Squad number23Player nameMurphy
Squad number11Player nameRitchie
Squad number3Player nameDummett
Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff
Line-ups
Fulham
Formation 4-2-3-1
17Leno
21Castagne4Tosin3Bassey33Robinson
26João Palhinha10Cairney
22Iwobi18Pereira20Willian
19Muniz Carvalho
17Leno21Castagne4Tosin3Bassey33Robinson26João PalhinhaSubstituted forBrojaat 85’minutes10CairneySubstituted forLukicat 65’minutesBooked at 68mins22Iwobi18PereiraSubstituted forTraoréat 65’minutes20WillianSubstituted forWilsonat 65’minutes19Muniz CarvalhoSubstituted forJiménezat 86’minutesSubstitutes1Rodák6Reed7Jiménez8Wilson9Broja11Traoré13Ream14De Cordova-Reid28Lukic
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
1Dúbravka
17Krafth5Schär33Burn20Hall
36S Longstaff39Bruno Guimarães28Willock
23Murphy14Isak10Gordon
1Dúbravka17KrafthBooked at 19mins5Schär33Burn20HallSubstituted forDummettat 90+5’minutes36S LongstaffBooked at 51mins39Bruno Guimarães28WillockSubstituted forAndersonat 40’minutes23MurphySubstituted forBarnesat 65’minutes14Isak10GordonSubstituted forRitchieat 90+5’minutesSubstitutes3Dummett11Ritchie15Barnes18Karius29Gillespie32Anderson40White49Diallo54Murphy
Referee:Sam Allison
Attendance:24,418
Live Text
Match ends, Fulham 0, Newcastle United 1.
Second Half ends, Fulham 0, Newcastle United 1.
Attempt saved. Alexander Isak (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Emil Krafth.
Foul by Raúl Jiménez (Fulham).
Fabian Schär (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is too high.
Attempt saved. Alexander Isak (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bruno Guimarães.
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Dan Burn.
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Matt Ritchie.
Attempt blocked. Raúl Jiménez (Fulham) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Emil Krafth.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Matt Ritchie replaces Anthony Gordon.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Paul Dummett replaces Lewis Hall because of an injury.
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Lewis Hall.
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Fabian Schär.
Harry Wilson (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United).
Foul by Sasa Lukic (Fulham).
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Fabian Schär.