Daryl Murphy delivers blunt assessment of Newcastle's performance against Fulham

Daryl Murphy says Newcastle United MUST improve their home form after the club suffered a fifth defeat at St James's Park.
Newcastle United's Daryl Murphy.Newcastle United's Daryl Murphy.
Newcastle United's Daryl Murphy.

Murphy came off the bench and scored in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Fulham.

The damaging defeat, which came on manager Rafa Benitez’s one-year anniversary at St James’s Park, left the Championship leaders just six points ahead of third-placed Huddersfield Town, who have a game in hand.

It also ended an 11-match unbeaten run in the league.

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“We’re gutted,” said Murphy. “We’ve been unbeaten for quite a while now, and to lose at home they way we did is very disappointing.”

Murphy was disappointed that his fifth goal of the season counted for nothing.

“It is disappointing,” said Murphy. “You want to come on and try and make something happen and score a goal, but we didn’t really threaten after that, which is disappointing.

“I scored, but it counted for nothing. We still got beat.”

Newcastle – who take on Birmingham City at St Andrew’s on Saturday – had taken seven points from a run of three tough away games against Reading, Huddersfield and Brighton and Hove Albion.

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And Benitez’s side looked mentally and physically tired against Fulham following their exertions away from home.

Asked if those games had taken a toll on the players, Murphy said: “It’s tough, but we can’t be making excuses.”

Tom Cairney opened the scoring in the 15th minute, and 16-year-old Ryan Sessegnon scored twice after the break for Fulham, who beat United at Craven Cottage on the opening day of the season.

“We knew what Fulham are about,” said 33-year-old Murphy.

“They’re a good side and like to play football. They create a lot of chances. We probably gave them too much respect. They got on the ball quiet easily and made things happen.

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“That’s not us, especially at home. We have to be better. All of us know that. We need to be better individually and collectively.

“The game has gone now, and we can’t do anything about it. We can only work hard during the week and get a win.”

Five of Newcastle’s nine remaining matches are at St James’s Park.

Asked about United’s home form, Murphy added: “That’s something we need to put right.

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“We have to look at ourselves and make sure when teams come here they don’t like it (playing at St James’s Park).

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work, but when we’re at home, we should be dominating teams. We’ve not done that (against Fulham).

“We need to forget about it. It’s gone. We can’t anything about. We can only make it right (against Birmingham).”