Newcastle 2 Fulham 1 Things feel a bit better today and maybe Christmas might not have to be cancelled

Newcastle 2 Fulham 1 – Wednesday 17 December 2025 8.15pm

Let’s get something straight here – you don’t eradicate defeat to the mackems by beating Fulham. Sunday’s performance can only be expunged by a) hammering said mackems in the return game and b) turning this season into such an unequivocal success that the recent game becomes a laughing matter and a forgettable irrelevance in a season that delivers yet another dose of unmitigated pure Newcastle United.

Despite the hysterics of some of our younger, thicker and more recent fans, this remained undoubtedly possible. This game was the first hurdle to that redemption and it was a big one.

We were entitled to expect to beat Fulham and take our trophy defence into another semi final. The depletion of their first team by AFCON call-ups only added to this but it was our own team that prompted discussion.

Lewis Hall’s absence was and is terrifying. Hall is a superstar and the team is depleted without him. The fact this meant that Lewis Miley was stuffed in at right back made this seem even more terrifying but this was to prove a relative master stroke in the scheme of things. In lovelier news Wissa was finally able to turn up for a bit football and he’d have been buoyed by the addition of Murphy and Barnes to maybe help create goals for Newcastle as opposed to Sunday’s selection aimed at awarding goal kicks to the opponent (I might not be properly over that you know).

The right wing option is going to be a consistent discussion and for me there’s only one man who should be in possession of the shirt for the time being. Jacob Murphy was the standout first half, as he consistently delivered dangerous balls into the box. Wissa’s constant presence there meant there was something to aim at, as opposed to the deeper lying Woltemade, and suddenly a game plan of deliveries from out wide to a striker in the middle was emerging. It’s a simple game really.

The opening goal was straight from the nostalgia playbook. Raking, inch-perfect cross-field Hollywood pass from Schar found Murphy, who delivered a sweet low cross straight into the mixer. The keeper reacted to bat it away but Wissa was right on the spot to follow in for his first Newcastle goal. If we can maintain this sort of goal for the rest of the season things might be looking well up.

The atmosphere was relatively muted as I think people were still a bit huffed with the team from Sunday, and not quite ready for the conciliatory business of unequivocal support. The narrative was clear though, as the Strawberry corner maintained a fairly constant refrain of “Eddie Howe’s black and white army”, in a sensible approach where unity might just be more in our interests than hissy fits and online attention seeking.

Nonetheless, this was far from the kind of atmosphere you’d expect for a business end cup tie. I wonder if the ticketing scheme is backfiring a bit, as people come along when they can’t really be bothered on fear of missing out on the final. The mood was not helped by our lead being eradicated after five minutes in the softest of fashions. Fulham broke and Robinson’s cross found a pack of three unmarked green shirts, runners from midfield that had again been left untracked. Lukic was the one whose unchallenged header beat Ramsdale, repeating his equaliser from the league game a few weeks back.

This was doubly frustrating as Fulham weren’t in this match at all other than that goal. The possession was being utilised to infinitely more effect than in Sunday’s wretched showing and Wissa was at the centre of most good things. His movement was terrific to get on the end of Willock’s lofted pass, the execution of his header not so effective. Then when Bruno’s shot tested the keeper Murphy was on hand to return the loose ball to the centre, Wissa narrowly missing out on a carbon copy of his goal.

With things level into the second half, fears started to creep in. United seem to constantly have a daft concession in them and Fulham’s counter attacking plan was ominous. Wissa was replaced by Woltemade and more injury worries immediately emerged as Livramento hobbled off, later seen with an ice pack on his knee. The hope is more likely for Hall for the weekend, but their absence in addition to Trippier, Burn and Krafth, has led to speculation Matt Targett may be recalled to bolster the full back resources. Alex Murphy was brought on and will almost certainly get some chances int he weeks ahead.

With Murphy and Barnes replaced by Gordon and Elanga, the early attacking impetus was all removed, meaning penalties loomed horribly. There was one substitution that would prove effective though, as Sandro Tonali’s 20 minute cameo was firmly in the vein of the superstar we love, as opposed to the slightly underwhelming showings we’ve had at times lately.

Tonali was playing exactly how I’ll remember him after he’s spoiled for a move to Barcelona/Man City next summer/January, covering every inch of the pitch to harry possession and drive the impetus forward. I was examining the eleven on the pitch as the injury time board went up, wondering who was going to be the scapegoat for internet bullying after the imminent shootout, when the Italian contributed to the decisive moment.

First, Tonali’s followed up as Bruno’s blocked shot wasn’t cleared, knocking the ball to Big Nick, whose smart lay off allowed Miley to pick his spot in the corner, bringing a fine save from Lecomte. Tonali floated the resultant corner tantalising in to the front post and this time Miley wasn’t being denied, rising ahead of the visitors defence to guide a tremendous header in to win the tie. Fulham’s second injury time 2-1 defeat in a matter of weeks and good to know that there’s someone with a worse record than us for losing in injury time at SJP.

Miley will rightly get the plaudits for a fine showing, strong and fast in an unfamiliar position (that he may grow more familiar with depending on the sick list) before popping up with a key intervention. Following on from his efforts against Everton and Leverkusen there is a real sense that the youngster is going to be nailing down a long term place in the team.

This was not vintage stuff, with the performance similar to the unspectacular aforementioned victory over the Cottagers here. There is a long road to getting this season on track but our third league cup semi final in four years is a very decent step forward.

The draw was immediately afterwards and led to groans within the pub I caught it in, as we failed to get the second leg home advantage, as well as probably the toughest opposition in Manchester City. The hope has to be that improvements grow and form is in full flow for the first leg in mid-January, as a performance that night feels essential if we’re on for a return to Wembley. Some good news on the full-back front would be extremely welcome in the days ahead as well, as attention turns to Chelsea and trying once again to course correct in the Premier League.

Things feel a bit better today and maybe Christmas might not have to be cancelled. More to do though, on to Saturday.

Newcastle 2 Fulham 1 – Wednesday 17 December 2025 8.15pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Wissa 10,  Miley 90+2

Fulham:

Lukic 16

Possession was Newcastle 61% Fulham 39%

Total shots were Newcastle 14 Fulham 6

Shots on target were Newcastle 6 Fulham 3

Corners were Newcastle 5 Fulham 5

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 36 Fulham 15

Newcastle team v Fulham:

Ramsdale, Livramento (Alex Murphy 76), Thiaw, Schar, Ramsey, Willock (Tonali 72), Miley, Bruno, Jacob Murphy(Elanga 85), Barnes (Gordon 85), Wissa (Woltemade 72)

Unused subs:

Ruddy, Joelinton, Shahar, Neave

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