Fulham v Newcastle

Fulham 5

Murphy 52′ (pen) Dempsey 59′, 65′, 89′ Zamora 68′ (pen)

Newcastle 2

Guthrie 43′ Ben Arfa 85′

FT 90 +6
HT 0-1

Dempsey is the first American to score a Premier League hat-trick

By Michael Da Silva BBC Sport

Clint Dempsey scored a hat-trick as Fulham stunned Newcastle in an extraordinary game at Craven Cottage.

Danny Guthrie's emphatic strike put Newcastle ahead, before Danny Murphy's penalty kick-started Fulham's comeback.

Dempsey bundled in his first and then finished off a blistering counter-attack before Bobby Zamora scored another penalty to make it 4-1.

Hatem Ben Arfa's individual effort gave Newcastle hope but Dempsey secured the points with a fine run and finish.

This remarkable match was always likely to hinge on how well Newcastle would cope without their Africa Cup of Nations stars - namely Cheick Tiote and Demba Ba - both of whom have been fundamental to the Magpies' successful campaign.

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Jol delighted with tactical switch

And, judging by their superiority throughout the first 45 minutes, it was a test they seemed well equipped to handle.

Ben Arfa, handed a start in the absence of Ba, featured on the right side of a front three that also contained Shola Ameobi and Leon Best, and the Frenchman was central to Newcastle's numerous first-half attacks.

The Magpies should have gone ahead when Fabricio Coloccini waltzed into the box unmarked, but then only managed to stab his effort straight at keeper David Stockdale from point-blank range.

It was a big miss that was forgotten moments later when Newcastle finally made their dominance count through Guthrie's long-range opener.

After collecting a pass from Ben Arfa, who had robbed Bryan Ruiz of the ball in the Fulham half, Guthrie rifled a thunderous left-footed shot past the outstretched Stockdale - a strike that sent the travelling support at the Putney End of the stadium wild with delight.

DID YOU KNOW?

Fulham have won four of their last five Premier League matches at Craven Cottage, with four of those games against teams in the top seven of the table.

The error summed up Fulham's abject first-half performance. But the home side were handed a lifeline at the start of the second half when former Magpie Damien Duff was clumsily shoved in the back by full-back Davide Santon as he ran on to a long ball.

Santon, who was already on a yellow card, was lucky to escape further punishment before Murphy sent Dutch keeper Tim Krul the wrong way with the resulting penalty.

The goal ignited Fulham and suddenly the west Londoners looked the more likely to get a second. Zamora was denied by Krul, who smothered the England striker's attempt, before Chris Baird lashed the rebound just over the bar.

With Newcastle eager to re-establish their lead, they were found outnumbered at the back as substitute Andrew Johnson led a pacy counter-attack.

With Zamora to his right, Johnson played in the England striker, whose shot was parried to Dempsey, who turned in from close range.

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Pardew rues second half collapse

Fulham were in the ascendancy, exposing Newcastle with every attack and the American soon put daylight between the sides with Fulham's third.

Set free down the right by Zamora, Dempsey fired low into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.

Newcastle were shell-shocked and had no answer to Fulham's second-half onslaught. The home side's incessant pressure meant a fourth goal was never far away - and it came courtesy of another penalty.

Centre-back Mike Williamson was unable to stop Johnson driving into a shooting position before Krul brought down the former Crystal Palace striker.

Like Santon earlier in the game, the Newcastle keeper was lucky to escape with a yellow card. But the real punishment came when Zamora, watched by England coach Fabio Capello, hammered the penalty down the middle.

Ben Arfa closed the gap to two goals again when he cut in from the right and fired a low shot inside the near post.

But the afternoon belonged to Fulham, and particularly Dempsey, who darted between Williamson and Coloccini to latch on to Murphy's long ball and fire in the first Premier League hat-trick by an American.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Fulham

12 Stockdale
02 Kelly
03 JA Riise
05 Hangeland
14 Senderos
04 Sidwell (Johnson - 37' )
13 Murphy
16 Duff
23 Dempsey (Frei - 90' )
11 Ruiz (Baird - 46' )
25 Zamora

Substitutes

38 Etheridge
06 Baird
18 Hughes
28 Briggs
15 Gecov
21 Frei
08 Johnson

Newcastle United

26 Krul Booked
02 Coloccini
03 Santon Booked
05 Simpson Booked
06 Williamson
04 Cabaye (Gosling - 83' )
08 Guthrie Booked (Perch - 76' )
10 Ben Arfa
18 Gutierrez
20 Best (R Taylor - 86' )
23 Sh Ameobi

Substitutes

35 Elliot
14 Perch
16 R Taylor
31 Ferguson
15 Gosling
25 Obertan
11 Lovenkrands

Ref: Mason

Att: 25,692

Match Stats

Possession 53 47

Shots

10 15

On target

7 9

Corners

2 6

Fouls

8 12

Live Text Commentary

95:12 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +4:00

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Davide Santon by Philippe Senderos. Strike on goal comes in from Ryan Taylor from the free kick.

90:00 +1:37

The referee blows for offside against Bobby Zamora. Indirect free kick taken by Tim Krul.

90:00 +0:40 Substitution

Substitution (Fulham) makes a substitution, with Kerim Frei coming on for Clint Dempsey.

86:37

Jonas Gutierrez takes a shot. Shola Ameobi gets a block in. The assistant referee flags for offside against Andrew Johnson. Tim Krul takes the indirect free kick.

88:05

Bobby Zamora provided the assist for the goal.

88:05 Goal scored

Goal - Clint Dempsey - Fulham 5 - 2 Newcastle Clint Dempsey finds the net with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Fulham 5-2 Newcastle.

86:37

Jonas Gutierrez takes a shot. Shola Ameobi gets a block in. Andrew Johnson is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Tim Krul takes the indirect free kick.

85:31 Substitution

Substitution Leon Best leaves the field to be replaced by Ryan Taylor.

84:20 Goal scored

Goal - Hatem Ben Arfa - Fulham 4 - 2 Newcastle Hatem Ben Arfa grabs a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Fulham 4-2 Newcastle.

84:18

The assist for the goal came from Shola Ameobi.

83:33

James Perch gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Damien Duff. Danny Murphy restarts play with the free kick.

82:32

Tim Krul takes the indirect free kick.

82:32 Substitution

Substitution Dan Gosling is brought on as a substitute for Yohan Cabaye.