Whippet Osula Helps Bruno Clinch 3pts in a Hard Fought Game

It was late, it was dramatic, and it was pure St James’ Park.

BBC MOTD Highlights: Newcastle v Fulham: Bruno Guimaraes scores late winner - BBC Sport

On a chilly Saturday afternoon, Newcastle United dug deep to claim a 2–1 win over Fulham, thanks to a 90th-minute strike from Bruno Guimarães after Will Osula made a dramatic sub appearance.

'Whippet' Osula's fleet footed run to the edge of the box and parried shot was calmly fired in by Bruno to send the SJP crowd into a frenzy.

A desperately needed win that looked to have floundered on near misses and posts hit was pulled out of the hat in the 90th minute. It capped a MOTM performance from Bruno.

Struggling to kill the game off - again

Coming off the back of that 3–0 win over Benfica in midweek, the Magpies carried real momentum into this one — but it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

Fulham came to frustrate, and for large parts of the game, they did exactly that.

From the first whistle, the Toon looked full of intent. Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy caused chaos on the flanks and we looked like scoring in every attack.

The breakthrough came early on in the 18th minute, and it was fully deserved — Murphy dispossessing Bassey and racing on to hit a superb low strike across the keeper and into the far corner.

He should have doubled his tally not long after when put in for a clear run on goal by a slick Gordon pass - but this time he hit the keeper's legs. You can't win em all.

But as has often been the case this season, Newcastle couldn’t quite kill the game off.

Adding to Murphy's miss, Nick Woltemade hit the post when it looked easier to score and over playing passes around the box led to defenders clearing when a shot and chance was on.

Fulham slowly grew into the match and, whilst the Toon stayed in the driving seat, it wasn't a huge surprise when they equalised after 10 minutes of the second half.

Eddie Howe gets his subs spot on

For the next half hour after Fulham's goal it felt like one of those afternoons.

Bruno somehow managed to plant a simple headed goal chance well over the bar following some great hold up play from Big Nick and a perfect cross from Gordon.

Joelinton had another headed chance from a KieranTrippier cross and Tonali nearly scored another of his wonder goals with a swerving shot from the edge of the box.

Chances came and went — and whilst the energy and attacking threat was there in abundance from the Lads a goal just wouldn't come.

Not until that is, Eddie made his subs.

Managers often get stick for bringing on subs with just a few minutes of the game left. This time Eddie got it dead right.

Having earlier brought on Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Fabian Schar, the latter for a head injury to Sven Botman. Tonali and Barnes both added to the Toon's constant threat.

But it was the late subbing of Will Osula for the tiring Woltemade in the 85th minute that finally led to a late, and well deserved, breakthrough and winner for the Toon.

With Fulham, to their credit, pushing for a winner and playing a high line another late sub Anthony Elanga intercepted a poor pass and sent Osula away on goal.

Osula's whippet like pace took him to the edge of the box in the blink of eye and a cracking shot was parried by the keeper straight to Bruno who calmly slotted into the net.

Cue for massive celebrations from the Lads, fans and Eddie and his team.

Even this early in the season it was a must win game and how sweet was it that for once we were on the right side of a late match winning goal.

Next up Spurs at SJP in the EFL Cup and then it's back to the Prem on Sunday 2 November at struggling West Ham.

PS. How bad was the referee? Nearly as bad as the one against Benfica.

Constant fouling and holding of players, especially on Big Nick, went unpunished by a yellow card time and again.

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