Fulham 2: Clark 6, Saha 8
Newcastle Utd 3: Robert 15; Shearer (pen) 50, 55

Final Update: 90mins (8.20pm)

United: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Bramble, Bernard, Jenas, Bowyer, Speed, Robert (Ambrose 84), Shearer, Ameobi  Subs (not used): Harper, LuaLua, S Caldwell, Viana

Fulham: Van Der Sar, Legwinski, Pembridge (Inamoto 78), Saha, Clark, Malbranque, Knight, Bonnissel, Leacock, Goma, Buari (Hayles 46)  Subs (not used): Crossley, Melville, Djetou

Referee: B Knight

Attendance: 16,401

SIR Bobby Robson recalled Laurent Robert to the starting line up for the game against Fulham at Loftus Road as Kieron Dyer missed out through a hamstring injury.

That was the only change to the starting XI that won at Middlesbrough on Saturday as The Magpies went in search of their third straight premiership victory.

United old boy Lee Clark, who bagged the winner in the same fixture near the end of last season, skippered the home side as regular captain Andy Melville was on the bench.

The game eventually kicked off at 8.20pm after a pre-match bomb scare, with both sides wearing their change colours. Fulham wore their black away kit, with The Magpies wearing the all-silver European strip.

Bowyer flashed a header wide with less than a minute on the clock after a good move involving him Robert and Bernard, then van der Sar did well to gather Hughes' cross under pressure from Shearer.

But it was Fulham who took the lead on six minutes, and there were no prizes for guessing who put the ball in the net. Hughes was dispossessed by Malbranque, and when he fed Clark coming in from the left had side the Geordie drilled a low angled drive into the bottom corner.

It got worse for Newcastle less than two minutes later when another ex-Magpies, Saha, got on the end of a long ball over the top, got the better of Bramble and fired past Given to make it 2-0.

United tried to find a quick response to the lightning start from the home side, but Bowyer couldn't keep his effort down after Robert swung in a left wing corner.

Speed was cautioned on 11 minutes after a foul on Legwinski, then four minutes later United reduced the deficit.

Ameobi crossed the ball in to Shearer, the skipper flicked it over the last defender and Robert ran in to rifle home his third goal of the season from eight yards.

The game had started at a rapid pace, and Shearer tried his luck with a lob on 22 minutes but his effort lacked height and van der Sar had no problems in making the save.

Bowyer then joined Speed in the referee's notebook on 24 minutes when he caught Malbranque with a late tackle on the far touchline.

United won a corner just before the half hour after Shearer's low cross was diverted away, and when Bowyer took the kick from the right side Bramble rose highest but could not keep his header on target.

Moments later Malbranque's teasing cross caused concern in the United defence, but Saha could not get on the end of it and the chance went begging, then at the other end Ameobi's cross drifted across the face of goal with Shearer unable to reach the ball.

On 34 minutes Bramble's long ball was flicked on by Shearer into the path of Bowyer, but the former Leeds midfielder blazed well over the bar, then Clark tested Given from long range in Fulham's next attack but the Irishman was equal to it.

Fulham won a corner eight minutes before the break when van der Sar's huge clearance skimmed off Bramble, but Shearer cleared the danger with a diving header at the near post.

Ameobi almost levelled for Newcastle on 40 minutes when Robert rode two tackles and sent the ball into the six yard box, but the striker got underneath the difficult ball under presure from Goma and it went over the bar.

Bowyer, who was having a fine game in midfield for the visitors, won another corner for Newcastle two minutes before the break, but Fulham cleared the ball.

Shearer twice got into dangerous positions in the box in the closing stages of the half, but Fulham held on to preserve their lead the break.

Fulham boss Chris Coleman made a change at the break, replacing Malik Buari with Barry Hayles.

Five minutes into the second half United were handed a glorious opportunity to level when Goma fouled Ameobi in the box after Bowyer's pass, and Shearer made no mistake from the spot to make it 2-2.

Hayles got goal-side of Bramble down the right channel two minutes later, but O'Brien got in the tackle before Hayles could ewither cross or shoot and Newcastle eventually cleared their lines.

Pembridge was booked on 53 minutes for a foul on Bowyer on the right side touchline, but Speed could not connect with Robert's inswinger, then as United turned the screw Legwinski was forced to put the ball out for a corner but again Fulham cleared.

United were well on top, and it was no surprise when Jenas chipped the ball into the path of Shearer and the skipper rifled the ball into the roof of the net to completely turn the game on it's head and send the travelling fans wild with delight behind the goal. 

A powerful drive from Saha on 60 minutes was well held by Given, then Legwinski was shown a yellow card for a crude lunge from behind at Bowyer. Robert drilled the free kick low into a crowded penalty area, but two shots were blocked.

Bernard sent Robert free on 70 minutes with a clever pass down the left channel, but when he put the ball into the middle van der Sar came out and smothered the ball ahead of the unmarked Ameobi.

Ameobi went down with what appeared to be a knee injury on 75 minutes after winning a corner for Newcastle, and he had to leave the field for treatment before resuming moments later.

The striker's next contribution was to slide a pass into the path of Bowyer, but the midfielder dragged his right foot effort across the face of goal and wide of van der Sar's right hand upright.

Bramble had to be alert to clear Leacock's cross from the right on 81 minutes with Hayles sniffing in the six yard box, and the big defender was well positioned again seconds later to divert Inamoto's angled effort off the line.

Goma hadn't enjoyed the best of games against his former club, and he needlessly conceded a corner when he headed Given's goal kick straight out of play, but Robert's set piece was not one of his better one's as it  sailed across the box and out for a goal kick.

With four minutes remaining, Robert was replaced by Ambrose and was afforded a fine ovation from the Toon Army as he left the field. 

With two minutes left Given made an unorthodox save with his feet to deny Legwinski from eight yards after Inamoto's cross, then Fulham won a corner then a free kick in a dangerous position in time added on but Newcastle held on to take the points.