Habib Beye Watch at Fulham

Joe Kinnear would have people believe that the referee cost us the game. Unfortunately our woeful lack of strength in depth and a few off-colour performances were to blame.

Claudio Cacapa, thrown in due to Taylor's groin injury had an unsteady afternoon which very much set the tone for a shaky defensive performance. As with many games this season, there was plenty of huff and puff from the toon but not too much of the blowing down of doors.

The miserable weather did little to inspire a game devoid of a cutting edge although 3 goals would suggest otherwise. Habib Beye put in his customary solid performance but this time was left with an underpar Spiderman to cover. Jonas had his worst game for Newcastle, which appears to co-incide with his switch to the right wing after his return from injury and Milner's sale. Indeed Duff swapped wings for long periods to get Jonas in the game but ultimately neither provided the cutting edge of recent weeks.

Fulham can consider themselves lucky that they caught Cacapa on an off day, and also that the ref failed to give an obvious free kick leading up to the goal. It would be sour grapes not to recognise the fact that Shola was off-side in the build up to our goal though. Perhaps these things even themselves out over the season.

One thing is for sure, we deserved something out of the game. Fulham on this showing are an average to poor Premier League club. Perhaps on this showing we are too!