Football: TRAVEL-SICK TOON CAPITAL LOSERS AGAIN

BOBBY Robson was given a standing ovation when he returned to Craven Cottage for the first time since being sacked as manager 33 years ago - but the compliments ended there.

Robson's side were torn apart by a Fulham team charging up the Premiership. Yesterday was the 27th successive time they have failed to win in London in all competitions for four years.

But after storming to fourth in the table this month Newcastle were halted in their stride. They were unable to keep track of the pace of Louis Saha and even captain Alan Shearer missed a penalty.

Newcastle had won their last two Premiership games and started knowing that a combination of results could have ended up with them being top of the table.

But whenever they play in London they have this record not so much hanging over them but affecting each and every player. It goes back to November 1997 when they won 2-1 at Crystal Palace.

Robson was sacked after only eight months in charge of Fulham and discovered he was out of a job walking to work in 1968 when he saw a newspaper bill board revealing his dismissal.

The reception he got as he walked across the pitch to the dugout was the loudest noise of the afternoon. Except perhaps what Robson said to his team in the dressing room at half time as they went in 2- 0 down.

Newcastle conceded a superb goal from Fulham striker Louis Saha - his first Premiership goal since the season's opening week.

Just three seasons ago he spent 11 games on loan at St James' Park, where former England captain Shearer advised him on improving his game. Shearer would have been proud of Saha's goal, a curling left-footed shot from the edge of the box which was in from the moment it left his boot and left Shay Given with no chance.

Moments earlier Craig Bellamy had seized on an error in the Fulham defence and then when goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar slipped it looked likely the Newcastle striker would score.

But van der Sar got back on his feet to stop the shot and Fulham cleared and Saha gave them their 20th minute lead.

Eight minutes later John Collins found Saha who touched the ball on to Steed Malbranque who fed his fellow Frenchman Sylvane Legwinski, who fired the ball under Given from the angle eight yards out.

After the break Newcastle had a spring in their step though it was still a surprise when they scored in the 65th minute.

Hughes broke down the right and crossed for Gary Speed to head past van der Sar.

Fulham charged back immediately and five minutes later Alain Goma flicked on a corner from Malbranque and Barry Hayles headed in from three yards.

Eleven minutes from time Laurent Roberts won a disputed penalty after being fouled by Goma but Shearer saw his kick touched on to the post by van der Sar. As the ball came out he attempted to put it in the back of the net but failed again.

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