Newcastle v Fulham player ratings: Joelinton 8; Wilson 6; Reed 8, Mitrovic 5

Last-minute header from substitute Alexander Isak earns Magpies three points

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Nick Pope 7: Had barely been involved in game when goalkeeper suddenly went down injured in first half but able to play on. Beaten by Mitrovic penalty but was straight out of goal pointing out striker’s double touch before scoring. Not really tested as Fulham had no shots on target. Getty

Kieran Trippier 6: A few uncharacteristic poor dead-balls and loose passes, in particular one back-pass that almost fell short of keeper Pope, but also usual threat attacking down right. Gave away penalty for clumsy foul on Cordova-Reid after VAR check. Getty

Fabian Schar 8: Hit post with second-half free-kick when everyone in ground was expecting Trippier to take it. Schar and defensive partner Botman handled the physical danger of Mitrovic in impressive fashion. AFP

Sven Botman 8: Immaculate again from the centre-half who never put a foot wrong and is quickly becoming one of the signings of the Premier League season. Has to be a full cap for the Netherlands on the way soon on this form. AFP

Dan Burn 7: Scored his first goal for hometown club in League Cup win over Leicester City, but focus was back on defensive work here which he did with aplomb and helped Newcastle secure yet another clean sheet. Getty

Sean Longstaff 7: Must have thought he was going to open scoring with early chance only for Diop to block shot. Blasted another chance way over just after break and the Geordie midfielder continues to miss good opportunities in front of goal. His cross into box led to Isak’s winner and helped midfield dominate game ... if only he could finish. PA

Bruno Guimaraes 7: Beautiful reverse pass put Longstaff through on goal for midfielder’s early opportunity. Left in agony in after rolling ankle over but able to continue but in clear discomfort and was in tears coming in at half-time. No surprise when he failed to reappear after break. Getty

Joelinton 8: Brazilian kept his place despite his midweek drink-driving charge but didn’t seem affected by his brush with the law. Immense in midfield again for the Magpies and showed why manager Eddie Howe was reluctant to leave him out. Getty

Joe Willock 6: Curled shot wide after two minutes when he should be hitting target at least. Surging run down left half-an-hour later almost picked out Wilson in box. Sacrificed for striker as Newcastle chased winner. PA

Miguel Almiron 7: Drilled a low shot from distance late in first half and his partnership with Trippier down the right caused Fulham a constant problem without the goal threat he has shown this season. Getty

Callum Wilson 6: Headed straight into Leno’s hands and then had shot turned over bar by keeper in first-half. Should have scored just before break when he finished tamely at keeper after lovely turn to set-up chance for himself. Provided assist for winner. AFP

SUBS: Allan Saint-Maximin (On for Guimaraes 46’) 7: Been tough season for French attacker but given early opportunity here. Usual flashes of pace and skill, drilled one low shot just wide of target. Getty

Alexander Isak (On for Willock 72’) 7: Newcastle’s record signing headed home winning goal in last minute of normal time. Reuters

Jacob Murphy (On for Almiron 85’) N/A. Getty

Chris Wood (On for Wilson 90+4’) N/A.

FULHAM RATINGS: Bernd Leno 6: First real save came in 39th minute when he palmed over Wilson strike. Beaten all ends up by Schar’s second-half free-kick and made a bit of a mess with the cross which led to Isak’s winner. Reuters

Kenny Tete 7: Smashed decent opportunity high and wide in 10th minute when well placed on edge of box. Solid show from right-back who did well against an in-form Willock. Reuters

Issa Diop 8: Frenchman produced superb last-ditch tackle to deny Longstaff shot at goal in fifth minute. In right place again to block same player's ball into box with Willock lurking later in half. Both challanges summed up his performance and probably deserved a clean-sheet, but it wasn't to be. AFP

Tim Ream 7: Looked like accident waiting to happen trying to play out from back early on but, in captain’s defence, had decent game at the back overall. Booked for chopping down Joelinton on the hour-mark which then saw Schar hitting post from resulting free-kick. AFP

Layvin Kurzawa 6: French left-back, in for Antonee Robinson, had hands full dealing with Almiron and Trippier – and booked for pulling down Paraguayan just after half-time for game’s first yellow card. Reuters

Harrison Reed 8: An influence at both ends of pitch, tracking back and making important challenges while also surging forward to support Fulham’s attacks. Reuters

Bobby Decordova-Reid 6: Earned Fulham second-half penalty when Trippier swept his ankles just inside box. Hadn’t offered much of an attacking threat before that. Did provide Kurzawa plenty of much-needed support up against the dangerous Almiron. Getty

Andreas Pereira: Furious at referee when Longstaff dived over his challenge to earn Newcastle free-kick in dangerous spot. Deserved booking in second-half for cynical foul on Wilson. Fulham needed more attacking wise from Brazilian who failed to make any impact on the usual well organised home defence. Getty

Willian 7: On target against former club Chelsea on Thursday and showed some moments of quality with some pinpoint cross-field passes and turns of pace although influence waned in second half. Reuters

Joao Palhinha 7: Portuguese midfielder on hand to break up Newcastle play in midfield and kept things simple in possession. AFP

Fulham's Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic takes a penalty and scores, but the goal is disallowed as he kicked the ball onto his standing foot, during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Fulham at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north-east England on January 15, 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

SUBS: Daniel James (On for Willian 77’) N/A. Tosin Adarabioyo (On for Pereira 77’) N/A. Tom Cairney (On for Reed 90+2’) N/A. Harry Wilson (On for Decordova-Reid 90+2’) N/A. Getty

Jan 16, 2023

Newcastle United moved back up to third in the Premier League thanks to a battling 1-0 victory at home to Fulham on Sunday.

Swedish attacker Alexander Isak, a second-half substitute at St James' Park, headed home the 89th minute winner which meant the Magpies leapfrogged Manchester United in the table.

Chelsea welcome Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk with victory over Palace

The victory extended Newcastle's unbeaten league run in the top flight to a club record-equalling 14, courtesy of a fifth successive clean sheet.

Having also reached the League Cup semi-finals, Eddie Howe’s men are riding high but the manager is conscious they have achieved nothing yet.

“It’s been a really good first half of the season for us. We’ve improved from the start of the season to now. I think there’s still more growth in the team to come,” he said.

“I’m very pleased with the players’ commitment and what they’ve delivered for the team and for me and the club, so we’re in a good place. But the challenge only gets harder.”

Newcastle’s latest win came courtesy of Isak, although the club’s £60 million record signing’s strike might only have secured a point had former Magpie Aleksandar Mitrovic not seen a 69th-minute penalty chalked off for double contact.

You can see player ratings from St James' Park in the gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.

Updated: January 16, 2023, 2:26 AM