Two wins in a row had lifted the spirits on Tyneside following a difficult christmas and they were by far the better team in the opening exchanges with Yohan Cabaye firing an early warning to the Fulham defence with a crisply struck effort in the first minute.
Captain Fabricio Coloccini should have put Newcastle ahead soon after but could only stab the ball straight at David Stockdale after waltzing into the penalty area to been Mike Williamson’s cross.
With the hosts penned back into their own half Pardew’s men continued to press and deservedly took the lead two minutes before half time with Guthrie fizzing the ball into the top corner from 20-yards after being fed by Ben Arfa who had dispossessed Bryan Ruiz seconds earlier.
However they were lucky to still have 11 men on the field just before the break as David Santon hauled substitute Andy Johnson down as he bore down on goal with referee Lee Mason brandishing a yellow card in his direction.
Whatever Jol said in the dressing room had an immediate effect although Fulham’s equaliser was a tad fortuitous as Damien Duff went tumbling in the area under the challenge of the hapless Santon although the Italian will feel hard done by with replays showing the initial contact took place outside.
Murphy took no prisoners though sending Krul the wrong way from 12-yards to ignite the Cottagers’ comeback and they took the lead on 59 minutes with Dempsey putting the finishing touches to a pacey counter attack for his first of the day after Bobby Zamora’s initial effort was saved.
The duo combined again six minutes later as the American slid the ball past Krul before Zamora lashing the ball in from the spot after Johnson had been brought down by Krul.
Still, Newcastle valiantly poured forward in search of a consolation and they receded the arrears with five minutes remaining as Ben Arfa did brilliantly to beat John Arne Riiser and fire past David Stockdale at his near post.
But it was the home side who would have the last laugh as Dempsey beat the offside trap to beat Krul and complete his hat trick.
