The Tanner Report: Newcastle United 1 Fulham 1

Once again the refereeing was the talking point – not an entertaining match, not a rejuvenated Fulham.

With the way things are going I fear for football as a spectator sport.

We have for the first time political statements being made pre-match; VAR is totally spoiling the flow of the match; players do not know if a goal can be celebrated; who knows what state the game will be in once the pandemic is over or its affordability to financially pressed households so now is not the time to alter so radically the game; it is possible that heading will be outlawed.

Fulham started with a high tempo and deservedly took a lead from a messy situation.

Adairabaiyo headed towards goal from a corner, the ball was deviated by Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie’s face into the goal.

Nonetheless the lead was deserved.

Then came the incident that changed everything.

Callum Wilson burst past Joachim Anderson and was held back outside the box, he continued into the penalty area, had his heel clipped with minimal touch and went down rather theatrically.

Whilst VAR confirmed the penalty, it also revealed Andersen may not have been the last defender.

Yet he was red carded from second yellow card offence.

For me such a drastic decision was unjustified. Fulham held out  to take the draw.

This was the type of game and opposition that Fulham were losing 3 months ago.

Now we have a redoubtable defensive unit, not least a fine keeper in Areola.

We need to be scoring more and neither Tom Cairney nor Alex Mitrovic did enough to reconfirm their selection.

Anguissa is immense in midfield covering so much ground and keeping play ticking over.

We have not had a ball carrier like him since Moussa Dembele.

Fulham is no longer a soft touch.