|
Newcastle wasted chances galore against the injury-ravaged Londoners, none more than skipper Alan Shearer who blasted a 49th minute penalty wide after Sean Davis had fouled Keiron Dyer.
The Magpies scored in each half, an early mistake by Edwin Van der Sar paving the way for Nolberto Solano's seventh minute opener which was doubled by the live wire Craig Bellamy after 70 minutes.
Fulham, who had lost Van der Sar through injury saw their cause not helped after 65 minutes when Pierre Wome was shown a straight red card following a dreadful knee-high challenge on Andy Griffin.
For the final half hour Newcastle were camped in the Fulham half but wasted chances galore, being denied by stand-in keeper Maik Taylor.
Dyer shot wide when clean through, Bellamy twice had shots and French winger Laurent Robert lost out to the keeper in the dying seconds when he was put through.
Van der Sar had been to blame for the opener when he was chased down by Bellamy and struck his clearance straight at Solano, for the Peruvian to delightfully lob the giant Dutchman from 23 yards.
Fulham played some pretty football but managed just one shot on target in the 90 minutes.
Shearer, who has never scored against Fulham held his head in his hands when he blasting high and wide from the penalty spot.
However the victory was assured, though never in doubt, after 70 minutes when a challenge from Fulham midfielder only succeeded in putting Bellamy in the clear.
The Welsh international cut in from the left and drove his shot across Taylor to add to the goal he scored against Southampton last week.