NEWCASTLE UNITED suffered more St James’ Park disappointment as they crashed to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Fulham.

Having been hammered by Bournemouth in their previous outing on home soil, the Magpies were beaten again by mid-table opposition.

Eddie Howe’s side looked to be heading in the right direction when they led at half-time thanks to a clinical finish from Jacob Murphy.

But Fulham were the better side throughout the second half, and after Raul Jimenez fired home a leveller, substitute Rodrigo Muniz flicked home an 82nd-minute winner.

Newcastle have now suffered four home defeats in the league this season, an increasingly alarming statistic as they look to claim a Champions League qualification spot.

They will have to improve markedly on Wednesday night if they are to avoid an uncomfortable evening in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal.

Will Howe make changes for the League Cup game? The Newcastle boss stuck with the same side that had started last weekend’s win at Southampton this afternoon, once again leaving Nick Pope and Sven Botman on the bench, and Newcastle began brightly, almost scoring in the first minute when Joelinton fired over.

They went close again three minutes later, with Bruno Guimaraes heading Anthony Gordon’s cross over the top, but Fulham gradually settled into the game and began asking questions of their own.

Fabian Schar and Dan Burn were forced to make a succession of important headed clearances, before Jimenez dragged a shot across the face of goal after Bernt Leno’s long clearance released him into the left of the 18-yard box.

Adama Traore headed Alex Iwobi’s cross wide of the target as Fulham continued to press, but Newcastle came within inches of breaking the deadlock shortly after the half-hour mark thanks to a moment of magic from Sandro Tonali.

The Fulham defence could only clear a cross into the middle to the Italian international, who cracked a brilliant 25-yard effort against the crossbar.

Leno was beaten on that occasion, and the Fulham goalkeeper was powerless to prevent Newcastle opening the scoring when they fashioned another opportunity two minutes later.

Anthony Gordon galloped down the left-hand side, and when he picked out Murphy at the back post, the in-form right winger cracked home a clinical finish.

Tino Livramento forced Leno into a smart save as Newcastle continued to press in the closing stages of the first half, but it was Fulham that began the second half with a spring in their step.

Martin Dubravka made a fine low stop as he clawed away a strike from Emile Smith Rowe, before an under-pressure Iwobi headed over at the back post after Traore crossed from the right.

Newcastle were on the back foot, and Burn did well to deflect a shot from Jimenez wide of the target after the Fulham striker latched on to a long ball.

It felt like an equaliser was coming, and it duly arrived just after the hour mark. Tonali gave the ball away cheaply, enabling the Cottagers to break. Traore floated a ball to the back post, Antonee Robinson volleyed back across goal, and Jimenez scored with a slick first-time finish.

Howe’s response to Fulham’s equaliser was to bring on Kieran Trippier and Joe Willock, and the latter wasted an excellent opportunity within a couple of minutes of coming onto the field as he failed to make any contact with an attempted first-time finish after Isak slid a low cross into the middle.

Suddenly, Newcastle were back on the front foot, and when Willock rolled the ball to Isak with 15 minutes remaining, the Swede curled an excellent effort against the crossbar from the left of the box.

It proved a crucial moment as Fulham turned the game on its head by claiming the lead with eight minutes remaining.

Two substitutes combined for the visitors, with Andreas Pereira whipping in a free-kick from the left, and Muniz stealing ahead of Isak to flick home a front-post finish.