Graphic: Bill Edgar's tactical analysis

Joey Barton wondered whether or not there is such a thing as “winning ugly”. If there are others out there with similar musings, they need look no farther than Newcastle United’s victory at Craven Cottage for an example in its purest form.

The term is usually applied to teams that know how to win beautifully; the point being whether an aesthetic side can ditch the dainty stuff and graft away to achieve victory. Such games are usually physical and packed with cautions, which, in their own way, provide entertainment. To win in a truly ugly fashion, however, there can be few rough tackles and little pace. If you add abysmal ball control, laughable shots and inhibited passing, this was the ideal ugly three points.

Newcastle achieved their first clean sheet in 21 top-flight away games by being deliberately unimaginative. “We asked the lads to stop Fulham first,” Sam Allardyce, the Newcastle manager, said. “We haven’t had a clean sheet away from home for 12 months and haven’t won away since the first game of the season, so I wanted a more resilient performance without taking away our opportunities to attack.

“Once we got bedded in, we carried on going and really dug this one out. You can’t always win pretty.”

And that is the winning-ugly blueprint: leave the attractive stuff to the home side and, if they mess up, try to sneak a goal at the death. This is especially true against Fulham, who are synonymous with late drama. Of the 28 league goals they have conceded, 11 have come in the last 11 minutes.

Lawrie Sanchez, the Fulham manager, said that as the game drew to a close he was annoyed that his team would secure only one point. Does he never learn? Surely he must have been more worried that Newcastle were about to get lucky. The ball had slid away from Alan Smith when Elliot Omozusi brought him down for the penalty and Barton beat Antti Niemi with the spot-kick.

If you are wondering why this match was awarded one star, it is because of the sight of the 5,000 Newcastle fans, maintaining their tradition for not wrapping up and jumping for joy as Barton celebrated in front of them. The midfield player criticised the same fans for being too critical, but the relationship is repaired.

“You get undone right at the death with a penalty and it’s very cruel,” Sanchez said. Cruel it may be, but it is also a habit and if Fulham, who dropped into the bottom three, are to stay up, Sanchez has to indulge, flatter and woo Lady Luck this Christmas.

Fulham (4-4-2): A Niemi 5 – E Omozusi 4, A Hughes 4, D Stefanovic 4, C Bocanegra 4 – S Davies 3, D Murphy 2, S Davis 2 (sub: S Kuqi, 75min), H Bouazza 3 – C Dempsey 3, D Healy 3.Substitutes not used:A Warner, A Smertin, Seol Ki Hyeon, C Baird. Next: Wigan Athletic (h).

Newcastle United (4-4-2): S Given 6 – H Beye 5, Caçapa 4, D Rozehnal 4, C N’Zogbia 4 – Gérémi 4 (sub: Emre Belözoglu, 59 4), N Butt 3, J Barton 6, J Milner 4 – A Smith 3, O Martins 2 (sub: M Viduka, 77). Substitutes not used: S Harper, J Enrique, D Edgar. Booked: Emre. Next: Derby County (h).

Referee H Webb
Attendance 24,959