Newcastle United 1-1 Fulham: Scott Parker accuses Callum Wilson of diving
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Newcastle 1-1 Fulham: VAR still making wrong decisions, says Parker
Fulham manager Scott Parker accused Callum Wilson of diving as the Newcastle striker's penalty denied his 10 men possible victory at St James' Park.
The Cottagers took the lead just before the break and looked comfortable until the 62nd minute when defender Joachim Andersen was shown a red card for fouling Wilson. Initial contact was made outside the area but the Magpies forward fell once in the box.
The forward then converted from the spot for his eighth goal of the season, as the home side earned a fortunate point.
Parker was also left dumfounded by Graham Scott's decision to award the penalty. The referee checked the replays of the incident on the pitchside monitor and, after careful deliberation, stuck to his original verdict, while sending Andersen off having initially shown no card.
"For what I have just seen the contact was made outside of the box and he then goes into the box and dives," the former Newcastle midfielder told Sky Sports.
"I don't know whether he [the referee] is looking at the same angles I am. I just don't understand. The game has changed drastically and not for the better, in my opinion. It's a bit of a mess to be honest."
He added: "Referees make mistakes, I totally get that. But we have this VAR and everything there and we are still making incorrect decisions and that's puzzling."
Both BBC Match of the Day pundits Alan Shearer and Jermaine Jenas also thought Wilson had dived in the area.
Former Newcastle striker Shearer said: "Yes there's a tiny touch, but it should have been a foul outside the box."
Ex-Magpies midfielder Jenas added: "Parker has got it right. This is a dive. I don't think it's a foul. There's an important point here as well - we're watching this and we get all the angles, but the referee just got this one far-away angle."
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce, on the other hand, backed Scott's decision.
"I think the referee has made the right call," he said. "When I see the video back it looks like he clipped his heel."
The equaliser and red card were tough on Fulham, who had looked the more composed with their methodical build-up play, while in spells the Magpies XI played like they had just met for the first time.
Fulham had been particularly effective with deliveries from the left, so it came as no surprise when Ademola Lookman's corner caused confusion in the home area in the lead-up to the opener. Young centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo sent his header back into the six-yard area where Bobby Decordova-Reid produced a flick which went in off the face of Matt Ritchie.
Lookman had also gone close with a downward header while Decordova-Reid should have done better with a side-foot effort.
Despite playing more than 28 minutes with a man advantage, Newcastle looked little more threatening.
The point lifts Bruce's men up to 12th on 18 points, while Fulham are in 17th with 10 points.
Tough luck for valiant Fulham
Matt Ritchie unwittingly sent the ball into his goal after it bounced off his face
After a start to the season which saw their relegation odds further shorten following five defeats in their first six Premier League matches, Fulham appear to be finally getting their just rewards for their approach to the game at this higher level.
On Saturday, they did not have to be at their best against a disjointed home side, although there were a handful of impressive performances.
Lookman, on loan from RB Leipzig, has perhaps found his home at Craven Cottage. He was brilliant on the left and almost as a second striker, creating three efforts on goal including two on target.
Gabonese midfielder Mario Lemina was back in the line-up and was diligent in both attack and defence. His ball into the area for Decordova-Reid, called up as a late replacement for Ivan Cavaleiro, should have been put away.
Fulham remained spirited even after going down to 10 men, and despite missing out on a possible three points, this performance will have again delighted their fans.
Wilson saves the day for Magpies again
Newcastle 1-1 Fulham: We have got to perform better, says Bruce
Prior to the match, Bruce highlighted - as he has repeatedly recently - how much his side had been affected by the coronavirus, which initially resulted in the postponement of their match against Aston Villa at the start of December.
However, victory over West Brom and a competent 77-minute display against an effervescent Leeds suggested that his side could continue producing displays that have so far seen them keep clear of the relegation battle.
It was not a lack of fitness but a lack of cohesion that affected Newcastle in the first half on Saturday.
They marginally improved after the break, but with Miguel Almiron and £40m signing Joelinton once again misfiring it was left to Wilson to save the day.
The former Bournemouth striker has arguably been the Magpies' best signing in recent seasons. Whether he was fouled outside the area or not is debatable, but his pace and nous got him into the position that forced a mistake from Andersen before he coolly dispatched from the spot.
Bruce cannot afford to rest him over this festive period and will be praying he stays fit.
"I think if we're brutally honest we weren't that great," added the Magpies manager.
"Against 10 men we struggled to create anything, but we've had a difficult week and we'll dust ourselves down and get ready for Tuesday [EFL Cup quarter-final against Brentford]."
Fulham pay the penalty - stats
Newcastle are unbeaten in their last six Premier League home games against Fulham (W3 D3), last tasting defeat in May 2009.
Newcastle have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 Premier League games at St James' Park, their longest run without a shutout in the competition since February 2005, when Graeme Souness was in charge (also 11 games).
Fulham have picked up points when finishing a Premier League game with 10 men for the first time since April 2013 when beating QPR 3-2. They had lost the previous five instances.
No side have conceded more penalties in the Premier League this season than Fulham (five), with the Cottagers doing so in three of their last four matches.
Andersen is the third Danish player to see red for Fulham in the Premier League after Leon Andreasen in February 2008 v West Ham and Claus Jensen in April 2005 v Bolton.
Newcastle have won a penalty in three of their past six Premier League home games, as many as their previous 58 in the top-flight at St James' Park.
After missing two of his first four penalties in the top four tiers of English league football, Wilson has scored 10 of his following 11 from the spot.
Wilson has scored eight goals in 12 Premier League appearances this season, as many as his he did in 35 games in the last campaign for Bournemouth.
What's next?
Newcastle are at Brentford in the EFL Cup on Tuesday (17:30 GMT) before they go to Manchester City next Saturday (20:00). Fulham are at home to Southampton next Saturday (15:00).
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