Small signs of progress? - Fulham 1-1 Newcastle

After a tough run of results and two miserable performances against Everton, there were at least some signs of life from Newcastle at Craven Cottage.

We looked a better side, particularly in the second half, created enough chances to win the game and finally saw Jacob Murphy produce a moment of real quality to put us ahead late on.

But, frustratingly, we couldn’t see it out. Fulham equalised just three minutes later, leaving us with a 1-1 draw when we really should have been taking all three points.

It was certainly an improvement, and there is something to build on, but the same concerns around our lack of quality in the final third remain, and we could've lost it late on had it not been for Lukas Hornicek's superb save. 

Murphy produces a moment of magic but Newcastle let lead slip

Jaissle made four changes, with Sean Steur finally starting, Malick Thiaw returning at centre-back, Jacob Murphy coming in down the right and Yoane Wissa replacing Joe Willock in the No.10 role.

Starting XI: Hornicek, Dedic, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Gonzalez, Steur, Murphy, Wissa, Barnes, Osula.

Substitutes: Pope, Livramento, Botman, Schar, Toure, Elanga, Fernandez-Pardo, Willock, Miley.

The first half was fairly even, with both sides having their moments. Harvey Barnes was denied twice by Bernd Leno, while man of the match Hornicek was also called into action at the other end.

Dan Burn thought he had given us the lead when he found the net, but the goal was ruled out for a foul by Yoane Wissa in the build-up. It looked a particularly harsh decision, and one that left us frustrated.

We went into half-time level, but there was a noticeable improvement after the break. We played with more purpose, got into better positions and began to put Fulham under pressure.

Barnes continued to threaten but couldn’t find the finish his performance deserved. That was a recurring theme, with our attacking play often lacking the composure and quality needed to turn promising situations into goals.

Then, with ten minutes remaining, Murphy produced a moment of brilliance. Picking up possession after a misplaced Fulham pass, he drove towards goal before cutting inside and firing a superb left-footed effort into the top corner.

It was exactly the sort of quality we had been missing, and it looked like it would be the moment that secured a much-needed victory.

Unfortunately, our lead lasted just three minutes. Fulham found an equaliser in the 83rd minute through Rodrigo Muniz, who finished from close range after César Palacios’ delivery.

We had a late opportunity to snatch a winner as a huge chance for Hall was saved by Leno, but Hornicek was also required to make an important stop at the other end to prevent Fulham taking all three points.

Signs of improvement, but quality still lacking

There is no doubt this was better from us. After the performances against Everton, we needed to see a response, and there were encouraging signs, particularly in the second half.

We looked more organised, created chances and showed more attacking intent. Murphy’s goal was outstanding, while Hornicek once again made important contributions to keep us in the game.

But there is still a frustrating lack of quality in the final third. Barnes had opportunities to score, we failed to make enough of our promising positions and, ultimately, we didn’t do enough to put the game beyond Fulham.

We looked better with Steur in the side, we looked stronger at the back with Thiaw alongside Burn, and Murphy could've had a couple of assists on another day, but Wissa and Osula were largely anonymous and didn't do enough to hold up the ball, bring others into play or occupy Fulham's centre-backs.

The biggest frustration is that, after finally finding a breakthrough so late in the game, we couldn’t hold on. Conceding three minutes after taking the lead was a real blow, especially when three points would have provided such a welcome lift after four defeats in our previous five.

A point is better than another defeat, and there were genuine signs of improvement. But we should have won after getting ourselves in front so late, and we still need considerably more quality if we are going to turn these performances into victories.