ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC was always something of a cult hero during his time on Tyneside – four-and-a-half years after leaving Newcastle United, and the Serbian striker is an even more popular figure amongst Magpies supporters now.

Mitrovic’s bizarre disallowed penalty, in which he made contact with the ball twice as he slipped during his run-up in front of the Leazes End, proved the precursor to a dramatic climax at St James’ Park as Alexander Isak claimed an 89th- minute winner to lift Newcastle back up to third place in the Premier League table.

Isak headed home after Callum Wilson squared the ball across the face of goal, with his third goal in black-and-white settling a game that saw Newcastle keep their fifth Premier League clean sheet in a row.

For all that Mitrovic’s penalty travails undoubtedly helped them out, the Magpies’ defensive strength remains the bedrock for their push towards Champions League qualification.

At the other end of the field, Eddie Howe’s decision to select Joelinton less than four days after the Brazilian had been arrested for drink-driving was always going to be a controversial one, but the Magpies manager spoke with his squad and opted against laying down a disciplinary marker.

Joelinton delivered his usual energetic performance down Newcastle’s left, but his fellow Brazilian, Bruno Guimaraes, had a less enjoyable afternoon as he struggled through the first half after rolling his ankle. Guimaraes was determined to continue after receiving treatment, but while he made it through to half-time, he was clearly in discomfort. His perseverance was commendable, although it should surely have been brought to an end much earlier than it was, but his injury almost certainly contributed to a disjointed Magpies attacking display.

The effectiveness of Fulham’s press was another factor in Newcastle’s failure to establish much attacking rhythm, with the hosts failing to seriously threaten Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno until just before the interval, when Callum Wilson fired in a shot that was tipped over.

Wilson went close again a couple of moments later, but with Willian posing a creative threat from the right, Fulham were a match for their fellow top-six opposition. Indeed, had Kenny Tete not blazed an early effort wide, the visitors might have been in an even better position by the time Allan Saint-Maximin finally replaced Guimaraes at the start of the second half.

Saint-Maximin’s arrival necessitated a reshuffle that saw Joelinton move into midfield, but Newcastle almost made an ideal start to the second half when Wilson headed Kieran Trippier’s corner just wide of the post.

Fabian Schar went even closer when he struck the woodwork with a cleanly-struck free-kick from just outside the area, with the Swiss defender’s effort preceding the game’s key talking point midway through the second half.

Fulham’s players felt they should have had a penalty when Dan Burn appeared to tug back Andreas Pereira in the box, but in checking the incident, the VAR officials spotted a second infringement that occurred moments later as Trippier caught Bobby Decordova-Reid on the edge of the 18-yard box.

A penalty was awarded, sparking a chaotic couple of minutes in which Newcastle’s players did everything they could to put Mitrovic off his stride.

Their efforts worked, with Fulham’s Serbian striker finding the net, but only after slipping as he struck the ball, meaning there was a double-contact as his shot hit his standing foot. The effort, which bore similarities to Bolo Zenden’s successful effort for Middlesbrough in their 2004 Carling Cup final win, was consequently disallowed.

Understandably, Fulham were deflated after coming so close to breaking the deadlock, and Newcastle took advantage with one minute remaining.

Wilson’s initial attempt to square Sean Longstaff’s cross was blocked, but when he eventually stabbed across the six-yard box, Isak was able to turn home.