BRAVO AVO TO BRUNO
| Published date | 07 April 2024 |
| Publication title | Daily Star (England) |
As they celebrated a first win on the road since early February, Geordie fans were just happy to see their favourite player weighing in with an 81stminute winner to break Fulham hearts after a VAR decision looked set to spoil their day.
With 75 minutes gone, it looked as if defender Fabian Schar would be the hero with a far-post finish from Anthony Gordon's cross.
But VAR official Jarred Gillet instructed referee Sam Allison to look at his monitor after spotting a robust Dan Burn challenge on Fulham defender Calvin Bassey as the ball whizzed towards Schar.The goal was ruled out but Fulham's reprieve didn't last long as Guimaraes nicked all three points, leaving 1 0
Marco Silva wondering how his side ended empty-handed.
They dominated the first half and should have been ahead but their impressive approach play just lacked a finish.
Newcastle have been as erratic and unpredictable as Fulham for much of this season, And Guimaraes has not been at his best in recent weeks, while conjecture swirls with Paris Saint- Germain and Manchester City in the frame for the talented Brazilian.
For long spells he lagged behind
Gordon as the Toon star most likely to win the match.
Back at Craven Cottage after disappointing results at Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United, Fulham picked up where they'd left off against Tottenham.
Silva referenced the first 45 minutes of their 3-0 win over Spurs as their best of the campaign and they steamed into Newcastle with the same tenacity.
Stiker Rodrigo Muniz was a handful, Willian buzzed dangerously, Andreas Pereira was a midfield influence and Joao Palhinha snapped into tackles. It was Palhinha who went closest, shooting just wide after a slick break.
NewcastleSilva's men were so on top in the opening 20 minutes that when Toon keepe
Yet the longer Fulham's domination continued without a goal, the more it played into Newcastle's hands.
And after grabbing better control in the second half, Howe's men eventually found a killer finish.
United's campaign started with so much promise but has now become a battle for respectability - and a fight to keep Guimaraes.
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