Fulham 1-4 Newcastle: Miguel Almiron scores twice Magpies in easy win

Miguel Almiron scored twice as Newcastle United got back to winning ways by thrashing 10-man Fulham 4-1 at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The hosts made the worst possible start when Nathaniel Chalobah was sent off after a late, dangerous tackle on Sean Longstaff that was initially deemed only a yellow-card offence by referee Darren England, only for Video Assistant Referee Mike Dean to intervene and recommend it be upgraded to a straight red.

Minutes later Callum Wilson tapped in the visitors' opener after Kieran Tripper's inviting centre was headed back across the six-yard box by Joe Willock, with the striker unable to miss from virtually on the goal line.

• How the teams lined up | Match stats
• Premier League table | Premier League results
• How to watch free Premier League highlights
• Get Sky Sports | Download the Sky Sports App

Almiron, described as "magical" by his manager Eddie Howe, then took over, curling in a sumptuous first from a tight angle after a neat one-two with Bruno Guimaraes, before Longstaff made it 3-0 with a simple close-range finish just before half-time.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

And the Paraguay forward rounded off the scoring for Newcastle with yet another easy finish just before the hour mark, converting Jacob Murphy's cross with the goal gaping to round off a comfortable afternoon's work in the west London sunshine.

And while Bobby Decordova-Reid headed in a late consolation for Marco Silva's team, they still suffered a first defeat at home this season as their opponents moved level on points with them in seventh and eighth places in the table.

How Newcastle got back to winning ways

Howe and Co made the long journey south having not won in the Premier League since an opening-day win over newlypromoted Nottingham Forest and eager to put that record right.

However, they were helped massively in that regard by Fulham's Chalobah, whose reckless eighth-minute tackle on Longstaff, initially deemed only a caution by referee England, saw the player rightly sent off.

The visitors took the lead after a nice flowing move, with the unmarked Wilson - back after a month out with a hamstring injury - tapping in at the back post after a VAR check for a possible offside against Almiron.

The Paraguay international got on the scoresheet just past the half-hour mark with a goal-of-the-season contender, bending an outrageous volley over Bernd Leno and into the far corner from the tightest of angles.

That wonder strike appeared to knock the stuffing out of the home side, whose afternoon then went from bad to worse when top-scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic limped off after appearing to aggravate the injury he picked up while on international duty with Serbia in midweek.

And it was game over when Longstaff was there in the right place, at the right time, to score from close range after an increasingly busy Leno had turned Sven Botman's header onto the post two minutes before the interval.

The only surprise, thereafter, was that Newcastle only managed to score once more in the second period as player of the match Almiron got on the end of Willock's inviting ball across the goalmouth for yet another simple finish.

There was still time for a Fulham consolation with two minutes to go when Decordova-Reid glanced home Neeskens Kebano's cross from the left, but by then, many of the home faithful had already made their exits.

Fortress Craven Cottage no more - Opta stats

• Fulham have now lost their first home league game of the season, having gone unbeaten in their first three (W2 D1). Indeed, they've now lost each of their last three top-flight home games against Newcastle, as many defeats as in their first 20 such games (W15 D2).
• Newcastle's 4-1 victory against Fulham is their joint-biggest victory under Eddie Howe in the Premier League (also 3-0 vs Norwich in April), while it's their biggest in London since beating Fulham 4-0 in May 2019.
• Newcastle's three first-half goals is the first time they have led by at least three goals at half time in a Premier League game since March 2012 against West Brom, and just for the third time away from home overall in the competition.
• The red card for Fulham's Nathaniel Chalobah (7 minutes 26 seconds) is the quickest received by a player for the Cottagers in the Premier League since Ian Pearce against Crystal Palace in October 2004 (6th minute).
• Newcastle's Callum Wilson has now scored five goals in his last five Premier League games, including three in his four appearances in 2022-23. Indeed, half of his goals in the competition have now come on the road (32/64).

Analysis: 'Magical Miggy' lights up west London

It was the perfect afternoon for Newcastle and their raucous travelling fans who had made the long journey south as the visitors strolled to a stress-free 4-1 win in the west London sunshine to get back to winning ways, and in particular for their popular forward Miguel Almiron, whose brace either side of half-time was the bedrock of the victory.

The ever-smiling Paraguayan can be guaranteed to put in a shift for his side, but what are not always such a certainty from him are goals.

However, the 28-year-old more than made up for that with a hugely contrasting brace at Craven Cottage, his first a goal-of-the season contender that will live long in the memory, unlike his second, a simple far-post tap in.

Incredibly for a player of his talents, that twin strike were his first Premier League goals away from home since scoring against Howe's Bournemouth in July 2020.

Not that his manager seemed to remember as he praised his "magical" forward after the game, saying: "He's capable of doing magical things and for me that was a magical goal.

"Bruno [Guimaraes] again was involved and they've got a really good understanding the pair of them.

"I'm delighted for Miggy, he's such an infectious character, his work sort of epitomises our play really so it was great to see."

What the managers said...

Fulham boss Marco Silva:

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

"The referee was clear for him a yellow card, he told me.

"Of course after the decision from Mike Dean (VAR official), it changed everything completely.

"So, long time to take one decision like that and to advise the referee (to change his mind) for me is strange. Of course it was a harsh tackle, but I'm 100 per cent sure I haven't seen consistency in these types of situations.

"I'm 100 per cent sure that in the next few weeks we will see more tackles like that one and they'll be a yellow card.

"That is tough for us to understand because we're not seeing consistency in those type of decisions."

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe:

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

"It has been a long time coming. We have had a long wait for the second win of the season. Right from the start we had a good feeling, with good energy, and created chances early on.

"Obviously, the red card made it easier, but I am very pleased with the players' response. Their attitude - we wanted more, we weren't happy with what we had, always trying to score.

"It's been a very difficult two weeks. Obviously, we have had the international break, with players going away, but we have also had a bit of illness in the camp, so it's been a mixed two weeks, but it didn't show in our performance.

"It's difficult, I haven't seen it again, my initial feeling was that was high and I think whenever there's height and force I think the player's safety is in danger.

"I thought Sean was lucky to get up from that one, that's without seeing it again, so I could be corrected, but the referee probably had a similar view and he gave the red card.

"He's [Almiron] capable of doing magical things and for me that was a magical goal.

"Bruno [Guimaraes] again was involved and they've got a really good understanding the pair of them.

"I'm delighted for Miggy, he's such an infectious character, his work sort of epitomises our play really so it was great to see."

Man of the Match - Miguel Almiron

The Newcastle forward was already a real fans' favourite even before Saturday afternoon's double in the capital, but after his sizzling display at the Cottage, he will now be the King of the North East!

Funnily enough, one of the main criticisms of Almiron since he joined the club from Atlanta United in January 2019 has been about his finishing, with the player often getting into good positions, only to often fluff his lines.

But not against Fulham as the ever-smiling 28-year-old doubled his team's lead with a sensational finish into the top corner, before tapping home a second to kill the game off as a contest 12 minutes into the second half.

If he carries on like this by adding goals to his obvious technique and impressive work rate - the striker was only denied a hat-trick by an offside flag - then the Magpies really will have some player on their hands.

What's next?

Newcastle host Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday at 3pm, before Fulham travel to West Ham on Sunday at 2pm.

Win £250,000 with Super 6!

Super 6 is back, bigger and better than ever with a £250,000 jackpot. Play for free.