Fulham 2 Newcastle United 1: match report Another chance came to nothing when Rodallega's attempt to play in Berbatov was intercepted, and when the Bulgarian did get a clear run at Krul, after a sloppy midfield pass from Vurnon Anita, Berbatov fired his shot straight at Krul, the ball striking the goalkeeper's shoulder. That came just moments after Sidwell had put Fulham ahead in the 19th minute. The former Reading midfielder started the move with a pass towards Damien Duff that was cut out by Fabricio Coloccini, but the defender dithered and allowed the Irish winger to dispossess him. Duff cut the ball back inside for Sidwell to sweep a first-time shot that hit Williamson before looping over Krul. Fulham's relief was tangible, the goal being their first in over five hours of football following a seven-match run without victory. It was fully deserved for Sidwell, on his 100th Premier League start and as hard working as Berbatov was languid. The Fulham midfield needed to be on its toes against a Newcastle side that did not have anyone with the class of Berbatov but plenty of threat. With Demba Ba and Papiss Cissé supported by Ben Arfa, Newcastle looked to break quickly, although it was Coloccini who went closest to equalising when he sent in a thumping header from Anta's corner in the 32nd minute only to see Riether head the ball off the line. Anita also went close early in the second half when he curled a first- time shot just over the bar. Instead it was Ben Arfa who finally equalised with a stunning goal in the 54th minute. F 1-1 Arfa ourmatch.net by ourmatch Hatem Ben Arfa pulls one out of the bag to make it 1-1 The French midfielder, returning after four games out with a hamstring injury, looked to have no sight of the goal when he received the ball on the right-hand corner of goal, with John Arne Riise between him and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. But Ben Arfa dipped first one shoulder then the other and leaned back to curl a shot towards goal. Ben Arfa was undoubtedly helped when the ball took a deflection off Riise's outstretched right boot and looped high over Schwarzer, on to the underside of the bar, and into the net. Newcastle's players gained a spring in their step and Fulham looked stunned. But Martin Jol's men recovered their composure and Rodallega made no mistake when Coloccini let him get ahead of him as Duff swung in a free-kick from the right, and the Colombian striker headed home powerfully from close range to restore Fulham's lead in the 63rd minute. Newcastle were always going to find it hard to recover, having failed to win any of the previous 60 Premier League games in which they had fallen behind before half-time. Like Queens Park Rangers and Reading, they have yet to win away in the Premier League, and their travel sickness was not helped by the stoicism of Fulham's defence, with captain Brede Hangeland superb on his return after a three-match suspension. Ben Arfa was withdrawn in favour of the more powerful Shola Ameobi in the closing stages as Pardew's men went looking for an equaliser. The tall striker was also reduced to shooting from long range by a crowded home defence, the ball wriggling through before being held by Schwarzer. The Australian keeper got down well to hold powerful shots from Ba and Jonás Gutiérrez in quick succession, before saving a vicious dipping cross from David Santon. By this stage Berbatov was using his experience in an effort to take the sting out of the game, dropping deeper into a midfield position and holding the ball up. He still managed to get forward, though, and tested Krul with a powerful shot with the outside of his foot that the Dutch keeper struggled to hold. Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Riether, Baird, Hangeland, Riise; Duff, Baird, Sidwell, Kacaniklic (Dejegah 62); Berbatov, Rodallega (Petric 86) Subs: Etheridge, Senderos, Karagounis, Richardson, Diaara. Newcastle (4-4-2): Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon; Ben Arfa (Shola Ameobi 70), Anita (Marveaux 86), Tiote (Bigirimana 86), Gutiérrez; Ba, Cissé. Subs: Harper, Perch, Ferguson, Taverner. Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).