Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said Miguel Almiron was capable of “magical things” after scoring twice to help his side hit four past 10-man Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Almiron netted a superb first-half volley before completing his double after the restart with a tap-in, as Newcastle moved up to sixth with their first Premier League win since the opening day.
“I’m delighted for [him], he’s such an infectious character. His work sort of epitomises our play, so it was great to see,” said Howe.
“He’s capable of doing magical things, and for me [his first goal] was a magical goal.”
Fulham’s day started poorly when Nathaniel Chalobah was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Sean Longstaff in the eighth minute.
Three minutes later Callum Wilson, returning from injury, tapped in Joe Willock’s header, before Almiron effectively killed off the game in the 33rd minute with his looping volley.
Longstaff added a third for the visitors just before the break, striking home a rebound after Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno tipped Sven Botman’s header on to the post.
And in the second half Almiron turned in his second, pouncing on a Willock pass across goal, before the hosts scored a late consolation, with Bobby Decordova-Reid heading home Neeskens Kebano’s cross.
Newcastle dominate with electric attack
With striker Alexander Isak picking up a knock on international duty with Sweden, Almiron’s slick display and Wilson’s return to action after four games out with a hamstring injury could not have been more timely.
“It’s been a very difficult two weeks,” Howe added to BBC Sport. “But it didn’t show in our performance.
“Right from the start we had a good feeling, with good energy, and created chances early on.
“Obviously the red card made it easier, but I am very pleased with the players’ response.”
Almiron’s first-half strike was special. The Paraguayan found the net with a first-time volley, latching on to a looping pass from Bruno Guimaraes.
And the 28-year-old thought he had scored a first Premier League hat-trick midway through the second half, chipping in a third only to see his effort ruled out by the offside flag.
As for Wilson, the 30-year-old’s opener means he has now scored four goals in four top-flight matches against the Cottagers.
The former Bournemouth star had hit the post in the opening exchanges and went close to scoring a second in the 28th minute with a curling effort.
Midfielder Joe Willock was also lively for Howe’s side, picking up two assists and forcing fine diving saves from Leno either side of half-time.
“We wanted more – we weren’t happy with what we had, always trying to score,” added Howe.
Injuries hamper sorry Fulham
Referee Darren England initially showed Chalobah a yellow card for his challenge on Longstaff but upgraded his decision to a red after VAR intervention.
Once Fulham went behind, there only seemed to be one winner.
Things went from bad to worse for Marco Silva’s side when star striker and former Magpie Aleksandar Mitrovic limped off in the 37th minute.
He was soon joined on the bench by debutant Layvin Kurzawa who also picked up a first-half knock.
Decordova-Reid’s goal came from Fulham’s only shot on target as the hosts struggled to get the ball upfield.
Defeat saw the hosts drop to eighth in the table.
The Cottagers visit West Ham away from home next Sunday, with Newcastle hosting Brentford on Saturday.
Player of the match
AlmirónMiguel Almirón
with an average of 8.96
Fulham
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Squad number9Player nameMitrovic
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Squad number17Player nameLeno
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Squad number7Player nameKebano
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Squad number10Player nameCairney
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Squad number21Player nameJames
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Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid
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Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira
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Squad number6Player nameReed
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Squad number27Player nameMbabu
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Squad number4Player nameTosin
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Squad number13Player nameReam
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Squad number30Player nameCarlos Vinícius
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Squad number31Player nameDiop
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Squad number3Player nameKurzawa
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Squad number12Player nameChalobah
Newcastle United
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Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
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Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães
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Squad number9Player nameWilson
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Squad number2Player nameTrippier
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Squad number28Player nameWillock
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Squad number4Player nameBotman
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Squad number33Player nameBurn
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Squad number5Player nameSchär
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Squad number22Player namePope
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Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff
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Squad number23Player nameMurphy
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Squad number32Player nameAnderson
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Squad number21Player nameFraser
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Squad number13Player nameTargett
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Squad number6Player nameLascelles
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Squad number12Player nameLewis
Line-ups
Fulham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 17Leno
- 27MbabuSubstituted forCairneyat 45+3′minutes
- 4Tosin
- 13Ream
- 3KurzawaSubstituted forDiopat 45+2′minutes
- 6ReedBooked at 54mins
- 12ChalobahBooked at 8mins
- 21JamesSubstituted forKebanoat 70′minutes
- 18Pereira
- 14De Cordova-Reid
- 9MitrovicBooked at 12minsSubstituted forAlves Moraisat 37′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Rodák
- 5Duffy
- 7Kebano
- 10Cairney
- 25Onomah
- 30Alves Morais
- 31Diop
- 38Harris
- 39Parkes
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Pope
- 2TrippierSubstituted forLewisat 83′minutes
- 5SchärSubstituted forLascellesat 83′minutes
- 4Botman
- 33BurnSubstituted forTargettat 83′minutes
- 36S Longstaff
- 39Guimarães Rodriguez MouraSubstituted forAndersonat 59′minutes
- 28Willock
- 24Almirón
- 9WilsonSubstituted forFraserat 66′minutes
- 23Murphy
Substitutes
- 3Dummett
- 6Lascelles
- 7Joelinton
- 12Lewis
- 13Targett
- 18Karius
- 20Wood
- 21Fraser
- 32Anderson
- Referee:
- Darren England
- Attendance:
- 22,913
Live Text
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Match ends, Fulham 1, Newcastle United 4.
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Second Half ends, Fulham 1, Newcastle United 4.
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Attempt missed. Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Elliot Anderson.
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Foul by Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle United).
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Carlos Vinícius (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Offside, Newcastle United. Jacob Murphy tries a through ball, but Ryan Fraser is caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Andreas Pereira (Fulham) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Carlos Vinícius.
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Attempt missed. Tom Cairney (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Andreas Pereira.
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Goal! Fulham 1, Newcastle United 4. Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Neeskens Kebano with a cross.
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Foul by Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle United).
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Andreas Pereira (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Fulham. Carlos Vinícius tries a through ball, but Andreas Pereira is caught offside.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Jamal Lewis replaces Kieran Trippier.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Jamaal Lascelles replaces Fabian Schär.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Matt Targett replaces Dan Burn.
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Ryan Fraser (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Harrison Reed (Fulham).
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Joe Willock (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Harrison Reed (Fulham).
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Offside, Fulham. Tosin Adarabioyo tries a through ball, but Bobby De Cordova-Reid is caught offside.
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