‘Awful’ - Alan Shearer delivers brutally honest 13-word Newcastle United verdict

The Magpies travelled to Craven Cottage having won three of their first four Premier League games and full of confidence that they could extend a good recent record away at Fulham. However, they left the capital having been soundly beaten 3-1 by a Fulham side that could, and probably should, have scored more than the three they managed.

It was a bitterly disappointing afternoon that started poorly when Raul Jimenez volleyed home an opener, taking advantage of some poor defending from Fabian Schar, inside ten minutes before Emile Smith Rowe doubled the lead with a goal that Nick Pope will believe he should have dealt with. A late Reiss Nelson strike ended any hope of a recovery for the Magpies and condemned them to their first Premier League defeat of the campaign.

Taking to X after the game, Alan Shearer slammed the performance of his former side, posting: ‘That was awful from Newcastle.  Got what they deserved. Fulham much much better. #FULNEW’.

Howe’s side now have just over 72-hours to lick their wounds and prepare for a Carabao Cup game against AFC Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium. A clash against reigning champions Manchester City then awaits just four days after that in what could prove to be a crucial period of the season before the next set of international games.