On Saturday, Fulham's visit is another match in recent times that is a six-pointer. Fortunately we have generally come away with positive results on such occasions. Whenever Fulham play, goals are pretty much guaranteed as they are the only team in the top five tiers in England to have not yet kept a clean sheet so far this season.
Casting our minds back to March 2016 when Rafa Benitez took over as Newcastle boss, it was Claudio Ranieri's title-winning Leicester City side that was Benitez's first opponents as Newcastle manager.
Going back a few months before that fixture, Claudio Ranieri's last visit to St. James' Park ended in a 3-0 defeat whilst Schteve McClaren was still trying to work out how to manage a football team. In that match, Jamie Vardy scored the opening goal which placed him joint top alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy for the record of scoring goals in consecutive Premier League games. The striker broke the record the following week to break the deadlock against Manchester United at the King Power Stadium.
The two sides both met two seasons ago in the Championship. An opening day defeat (1-0) and a problematic home loss in March (1-3) meant that Fulham were one of three teams in that season to do the double over ourselves alongside Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday.
Facts and Figures
All Competitions
Fulham wins: 31
Newcastle wins: 27
Draws: 13
Premier League
Fulham wins: 12
Newcastle wins: 9
Draws: 3
Premier Legaue at St. James' Park
Newcastle wins: 6
Draws: 3
Fulham wins: 3
Previous ten (all competitions)
Fulham wins: 6 (16 goals)
Newcastle wins: 3 (8 goals)
Draws: 1
Previous match before Christmas (past 10 years)
Newcastle wins: 7 (scoring 19 goals)
Losses: 2 (conceding 10 goals)
Draws: 1
Interestingly since his move to the club in summer 2016, Mo Diame has scored in both of the matches before Christmas coming against Burton Albion and West Ham away.
The last time we played on 22nd December, Shola Ameobi scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 home win over QPR.
Biggest win: Newcastle United 5 - 0 Fulham (07/01/1961)
Biggest defeat: Newcastle United 1 - 4 Fulham (07/11/2004)
Memory Lane
Newcastle United 3 - 1 Fulham - 19/01/2004 (Premier League)
Shay Given:
Aaron Hughes:
Jonathan Woodgate:
Andy O'Brien: Opened the scoring after four minutes. Right place at the right time for the Irishman. Woodgate crossed the ball in after an over-hit corner and Shearer's effort on goal fell to O'Brien to knock home. It was an impressive shot from O'Brien as he had his back to goal and had to swivel expertly to get the shot on target.
Olivier Bernard:
Nolberto Solano: This was one of many games in a Newcastle shirt where the Peruvian proved to be unstoppable. Despite not scoring a goal on the night, he assisted the goals from Speed and Robert.
Jermaine Jenas:
Gary Speed: Doubled the lead from a corner after 41 minutes with a header at the near post. It was an excellent corner from Solano but questionable defending from the Cottagers. The second goal was coming and Newcastle got their just reward before the break. Efforts from Olivier Bernard and Laurent Robert came close to giving the Toon that comfortable two man advantage.
Laurent Robert: Acrobatically made the score 3-0 after 54 minutes. Overhead backheel (picture that if you have not seen it yet). The Magpies held on to the win despite a consolation Fulham goal from Sean Davis. The win moved us up to fifth place and four points off fourth-placed Charlton (yes, Charlton were indeed in a Champions League spot in January 2004).
Kieron Dyer:
Alan Shearer: