Here's how the Club saw it: CD Nacional 0 Fulham 0 The team - Bettinelli; Stearman, Kalas (Edun 46'), Ream, Malone (Odoi 61'); Adeniran (Tunnicliffe 61'), McDonald (Sone Aluko 76'); de la Torre (Parker 76'), George Williams (Humphrys 61'), Christensen; Matt Smith (Floyd Ayité 76') Unused subs: Button, Sessegnon, Joronen, Madl, Cairney, Woodrow "As the scoreline suggests, it was a game of few chances, although the Whites did need Scott Malone to clear a first half effort off the line. In terms of overall chances created it was Slavisa Jokanovic’s men who just about edged it, with Stephen Humphrys going close late on, but a draw was probably a fair result. The local side went closest in the opening stages in the 10th minute when Bonilla let fly from 20 yards. His strike took a dangerous looping deflection that took it just over, with Marcus Bettinelli required to make a smart stop following the subsequent corner. Bonilla caused problems again seven minutes later when Nacional beat the offside trap to set up a shooting chance for the attacker. His shot went beyond Bettinelli but Malone was well positioned to clear it off the line. Fulham’s best chance arrived in the 38th minute. Clever line play from Dennis Adeniran allowed him to set Lasse Vigen Christensen free, and after he slipped Luca de la Torre in the young American drew a crucial near post save from Sao Bento. A fine move in the final minute of the half created a decent opening. It was started when Richard Stearman’s dummy allowed him space to send in a deep cross to Matt Smith, who cushioned the ball down to George Williams who had escaped the attentions of his marker in the box. The Wales international connected well but drilled his first time volley just over the bar. In the 55th minute the Portuguese outfit squandered a great chance when Willyan fizzed in a wicked cross that just needed touching in, but Hamzaoui could only prod wide from close range. Like in the first half chances were few and far between, but with eight minutes remaining substitute Humphrys sent in a rasping snapshot that was heading into the far corner until Bento pulled off a superb sprawling save. And with that the final opening for either side had passed and the Whites’ trip to Portugal concluded with a draw."
Currently I am expecting the line up for Newcastle to be: Button; Stearman, Kalas, Madl, Odoi; Tunnicliffe, Parker, Cairney; Aluko, Ayite; McCormack. Still some questions over those full backs though, so maybe a chance for Edun/Sessegnon.
I think it's more likely that we'd play Kalas or Ream at full back ahead of a youngster, but I'd like to think we'll see more gametime for our youth this season.
