After a bruising weekend, however, in which Fulham capitulated against Aston Villa and Newcastle battled back to take a point from Tottenham Hotspur, the Cottagers find themselves with another opportunity missed to boost their survival hopes.
Their goal difference is slightly better than Newcastle’s, but they’ve now got 26 points to the Magpies’ 29, while Steve Bruce’s side have a game in hand.
Crucially, while Newcastle have lost only one of their last five—and their morale will be boosted tremendously following their late equaliser against Spurs—Fulham have now lost four of their last five.
Their morale may well be low as well after their late capitulation against Villa, who, inspired by Egypt’s Trezeguet, scored three in the final 12 minutes.