Dempsey: Hat-trick hero

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Fulham 5-2 Newcastle

A second-half hat-trick from Clint Dempsey saw them blitz back to beat Newcastle at Craven Cottage having trailed at the break.

Newcastle were again missing their African stars but it didn’t seem to affect them in the first half as they dominated proceedings and finally forged ahead on the stroke of half-time as Danny Guthrie’s left-footed piledriver flashed into the top corner from 25 yards.

The second half was a totally different affair as Fulham fought back superbly with a four-goal blitz in just 16 second-half minutes.

The fightback started in the 52nd minute with a controversial penalty as Damien Duff appeared to be felled just outside the box by Davide Santon but the referee pointed to the spot. Danny Murphy stepped up to coolly slot home.

Clint Dempsey then scored the first of his hat-trick seven minutes later as he bundled in the rebound after Bobby Zamora’s shot had been well saved by Tim Krul.

The American fired in his second on 65 minutes after latching onto Zamora’s pass before finding the far corner of Krul’s net.

The game was as good as over three minutes later when Andy Johnson was felled by Krul in the box and Zamora stepped up this time to slam home from the spot.

Hatem Ben Arfa grabbed a late consolation for Newcastle with a fabulous solo run and finish but the afternoon belonged to Dempsey who burst clear of Fabricio Coloccini to complete his hat-trick with a lovely finish in the dying moments.

Martin Jol will hope his side can continue where they left off next time out while Alan Pardew will be pining for his missing African stars.