Former Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic had just one shot on target for Fulham in the match
Newcastle were held to a frustrating draw with bottom side Fulham in a cagey Premier League affair at St James' Park.
The hosts' best chance arrived in the first half when Jamaal Lascelles' header bounced dangerously across the face of goal after taking a deflection off Fulham forward Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Mitrovic had forced an early save from keeper Martin Dubravka but neither side created many goalscoring opportunities.
Newcastle built pressure after the break and had a strong appeal for a penalty - their third in the match - when Kenedy's arm appeared to be tugged by Joe Bryan.
Fabian Schar went close for Newcastle with a header which flew inches over the crossbar before Mitrovic's shot was blocked by Lascelles with minutes to go - prompting another penalty appeal for handball.
Fulham remain two points from safety while Newcastle sit five points above the relegation zone.
- Relive Newcastle's draw with Fulham
Newcastle will sit in 15th place on Christmas Day before embarking on a tough run of fixtures that will see them take on Liverpool and Chelsea away, as well as welcoming Manchester City and Manchester United to St James' Park.
They would have seen this game as an opportunity to pick up all three points and record back-to-back victories for the first time in the league since the end of November.
But it was a contest of very few clear-cut chances. Newcastle failed to record a single shot on target despite earning six corners.
There were a few soft appeals for a penalty in the first half when Tim Ream's tackle brought down Salomon Rondon and again when Matt Ritchie's shot hit the hand of Calum Chambers, who was unable to move it out of the way.
And when Kenedy appeared to be dragged back by Bryan, frustrations grew around the ground.
Improvement at the back for Fulham
Bottom-of-the-table Fulham will take on relegation rivals Huddersfield on December 29It took 22 Premier League matches but Fulham eventually recorded a clean sheet.
And it was a hard-fought one against a Newcastle side who seemed to build momentum in the second half.
Despite the hosts' increased pressure, Fulham were rarely troubled and had two great chances at the end to win the game.
Mitrovic's shot which hit Lascelles was worth appealing for and moments later Aboubakar Kamara's driving run threatened to split open a defence which had been caught on the counter-attack.
Lascelles recovered in time for Newcastle to deny Kamara a last-ditch effort on goal but Fulham will have been bolstered by their defensive display against an organised Rafael Benitez side.
The bottom team have a chance to finish the year on a high with two home games against newly-promoted Wolves and second-bottom Huddersfield.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Newcastle
12Dubravka
19ManquilloSubstituted forYedlinat 84'minutes
5Schär
6Lascelles
3Dummett
11Ritchie
30AtsuSubstituted forKenedyat 72'minutesBooked at 89mins
4Ki Sung-yueng
10Diamé
17Pérez
9Rondón
13Muto
14Hayden
15Kenedy
18Fernandez
21Joselu
22Yedlin
41Woodman
Fulham
25Rico
4Odoi
26Mawson
13Ream
22Christie
5Chambers
24SeriBooked at 87mins
23Bryan
10CairneySubstituted forAyitéat 82'minutes
9Mitrovic
14SchürrleSubstituted forKamaraat 76'minutesBooked at 84mins
1Bettinelli
6McDonald
8Johansen
11Ayité
19Vietto
20Le Marchand
47Kamara
Referee:
Martin Atkinson
Attendance:
51,237
Match Stats
Home TeamNewcastleAway TeamFulham
Possession
Home54%
Away46%
Shots
Home9
Away4
Shots on Target
Home0
Away2
Corners
Home6
Away0
Fouls
Home9
Away12
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Newcastle United 0, Fulham 0.Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Newcastle United 0, Fulham 0.
Posted at 90'+4'
Paul Dummett (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham).Posted at 90'+2'
Offside, Newcastle United. Kenedy tries a through ball, but Jamaal Lascelles is caught offside.Posted at 90'+1'
Kenedy (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the right wing.Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Aboubakar Kamara (Fulham).Posted at 90'
Hand ball by Aboubakar Kamara (Fulham).BookingPosted at 89'
Kenedy (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.Posted at 88'
Foul by Kenedy (Newcastle United).Posted at 88'
Joe Bryan (Fulham) wins a free kick on the left wing.Posted at 88'
Attempt blocked. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Aboubakar Kamara.BookingPosted at 87'
Jean Michael Seri (Fulham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.Posted at 87'
Salomón Rondón (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 87'
Foul by Jean Michael Seri (Fulham).Posted at 86'
Foul by Jamaal Lascelles (Newcastle United).Posted at 86'
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Posted at 85'
Attempt missed. Kenedy (Newcastle United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a set piece situation.Posted at 84'
Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the left wing.Posted at 84'
Foul by Cyrus Christie (Fulham).Posted at 84'
Attempt blocked. Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by DeAndre Yedlin with a cross.SubstitutionPosted at 84'
Substitution, Newcastle United. DeAndre Yedlin replaces Javier Manquillo.BookingPosted at 84'
Aboubakar Kamara (Fulham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.Posted at 83'
Javier Manquillo (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 83'
Foul by Aboubakar Kamara (Fulham).Posted at 82'
Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Denis Odoi.SubstitutionPosted at 82'
Substitution, Fulham. Floyd Ayité replaces Tom Cairney.Posted at 81'
Foul by Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United).Posted at 81'
Cyrus Christie (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.SubstitutionPosted at 76'
Substitution, Fulham. Aboubakar Kamara replaces André Schürrle.Posted at 74'
Attempt missed. Fabian Schär (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Matt Ritchie with a cross following a corner.Posted at 74'
Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Denis Odoi.Posted at 74'
Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Tim Ream.Posted at 72'
Foul by André Schürrle (Fulham).Posted at 72'
Salomón Rondón (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.SubstitutionPosted at 72'
Substitution, Newcastle United. Kenedy replaces Christian Atsu.Posted at 66'
Joe Bryan (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 66'
Foul by Javier Manquillo (Newcastle United).Posted at 61'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.Posted at 59'
Delay in match Tim Ream (Fulham) because of an injury.
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Source: bbc.com
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