Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United goes down with an injury (Picture: Michael Regan/Getty)
Newcastle 1-0 Fulham
Newcastle are in the market for midfield reinforcements after the injured Bruno Guimaraes left the field in tears during the 1-0 win over Fulham.
The Magpies needed a late header from record signing Alexander Isak to stretch their unbeaten Premier League run to 14 games and move into the top three after old boy Aleksandr Mitrovic fluffed a second-half penalty for Fulham.
But playmaker Guimaraes, having twice been treated for an ankle problem during the first half, had to be replaced by Allan Saint-Maximin at half-time.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said: ‘He was very distressed, I think he was in a bit of pain. In one of the challenges he’d twisted his ankle.
‘He felt he could run it off, obviously he couldn’t and he signalled with about 30 seconds to go in the first half that he needed to be withdrawn.
‘We’ll see how bad the injury is, we’ll see where the squad stands, but we are certainly light in midfield.’
Although Fabian Schar saw a 61st-minute free-kick come back off the post, Fulham were left feeling hard done by having posed a threat on the counter-attack.
Alexander Isak (left) celebrates with Callum Wilson after scoring (Picture: Lee Smith/Reuters)
Seven minutes later the visitors were awarded a penalty after a lengthy VAR review for Kieran Trippier’s clumsy challenge on Bobby Decordova-Reid on the edge of the penalty.
Newcastle’s players delayed the spot-kick to increase the heat on Mitrovic and, although the striker found the net despite slipping, it was immediately ruled out by referee Robert Jones who spotted he had made double contact with the ball.
The hosts made the most of their let-off in the 89th minute when substitute Isak headed home from point-blank range after Callum Wilson had sent the ball back across goal.
Frustrated Fulham boss Marco Silva said: ‘I’m really proud of my team. Our players were really unlucky to lose this game because they deserved much more.’
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‘He was very distressed,’ the manager said.
