Newcastle United are back in the drop zone after losing 2-1 to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

A Danny Murphy penalty sealed victory for the Cottagers after Shola Ameobi had cancelled out Andy Johnson's opener.

The win for Fulham moves them out of the relegation zone while the Magpies head the other way after suffering their second loss under interim boss Joe Kinnear.

Roy Hodgson's side dominated the first half and should have grabbed an early goal with Jimmy Bullard's shot tipped over by Shay Given while Zoltan Gera's header was cleared off the line by Jose Enrique.

And their possession paid off on 24 minutes when Claudio Cacapa headed the ball against his team-mate's back allowing Johnson to fire the ball home from 16 yards.

The visitors improved towards the end of the half with Obafemi Martins lashing a shot wide while Damien Duff rattled the post from Ameobi's through ball.

Kinnear's men were rampant in the second half with Ameobi and Martins inches away from connecting with Jonas Gutierrez's cross.

And they grabbed a deserved equaliser on 57 minutes when Nicky Butt scrambled the ball into the path of Ameobi who stroked in the equaliser, despite Fulham protesting the striker was off-side.

Newcastle continued to bombard the Fulham goal with Joey Barton's 25-yard drive tipped around the post by Mark Schwarzer while Butt's venomous drive flew wide.

But against the run of play, Fulham were awarded a penalty when Johnson was fouled by Fabricio Coloccini, with Murphy firing in the spot-kick for his 100th career goal.

Michael Owen was brought on by Kinnear for the closing stages and the England striker should have equalized but volleyed wide from close range.

The Magpies continued to throw everything at the Cottagers in the dying seconds with Martins' drive beaten away by Schwarzer, but the home side clung on for victory.
© Adfero Ltd