MATT SMITH’S best pal is comedian Jack Whitehall – but Rafa Benitez will have found nothing remotely funny about the Fulham striker’s shock winner here.
Smith was a late-comer to football, turning pro at 22 after studying business at Manchester University where he met joker Whitehall.
And he certainly made Benitez stand up and take notice when he buried a header just before the break to consign Newcastle to defeat.
Benitez, who famously won the Champions League with Liverpool and was managing Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid last year, was making his Championship bow.
But the way his side wilted will have been no laughing matter to the Spaniard.
Though his predecessor Steve McClaren, who was doing telly punditry for Sky, will have had a wry smile with the familiarity of the situation.
McClaren knows all too well what it is like to preside over a Toon side that fail to live up to expectation, following his nightmare spell in charge last season.
Sadly for the 7,000 travelling fans, this performance was all too reminiscent of those limp displays under the former England boss from last term.
And remarkably, it means Fulham have now won this fixture on the last SIX occasions.
Not that it will have helped Slavisa Jokanovic’s bid for new signings.
The Serb has lost 42 goals from his squad following the departures of Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele, and named just four subs in the recent friendly against Crystal Palace to make his point over the need for reinforcements.
But outplaying the side many have tipped to walk the division this season was probably not the former Watford boss’ best strategy to convince owner Shahid Khan to splash the cash.
Whether it was teething problems or opening night jitters, neither side started the game particularly well.
Both were obsessed with keeping their shape and keeping the other team out.
That came as hardly a surprise given Benitez’ stereotypical cautious approach and Jokanovic attempting to fix a defence which had leaked 79 league goals last year – just two fewer than division-worst Bolton.
Togolese new-boy Floyd Ayite did offer some genuine pace down the left for the hosts – but £12million star man Matt Ritchie did not touch the ball for the first quarter of an hour.
Daryl Janmaat was almost left red-faced on 26 minutes when his sloppy backpass let in Sone Aluko, only for Grant Hanley to bail out his Magpies colleague with a challenge.
Aluko, signed from Hull this summer, threw his hands in the air in the hope of a spot-kick but ref Simon Hooper rightly ignored the Hounslow-born striker.
Newcastle had a penalty shout of their own nine minutes later as Ritchie’s cross struck the outstretched hand of Ryan Tunnicliffe.
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But again whistler Hooper waved play-on, correctly deeming it unintentional.
Toon looked awkward in midfield with Ritchie on the left instead of his favoured right-wing spot, which was being occupied by defensive midfielder Vurnon Anita.
It smacked of round pegs in square holes, while the physical presence of the suspended Aleksandar Mitrovic or new signing Mo Diame was missed.
Belgian stopper Mats Sels was one of five debutants and he almost gaffed when Aluko’s long-range effort bounced right in front of the goalie, forcing him to spill it and rely on Paul Dummett to clear the rebound.
That was a let-off for Benitez’s side – but the reprieve did not last long.
Just before half-time, Tom Cairney swung in a corner and powerhouse Smith lost his marker to direct an unstoppable header into the far corner.
The 6ft6ins forward ran away in jubilant celebration – and no wonder considering his Cottagers’ career has never truly got going since joining from Leeds two years ago.
He was farmed out to Bristol City midway through his first campaign – while last year he played second fiddle to McCormack and Dembele.
Perhaps this will prove to be the moment that kickstarted his West London career.
Although the fan who had earlier loudly broadcast ‘If Matt Smith is the answer, I’ve no idea what the question is’ will clearly need more convincing before he is won over.
Benitez changed his system at the break putting Ritchie on the right, moving Perez wide left and Anita the most prominent of a midfield three to shut down Cairney.
And it almost paid instant dividends as Anita’s cross found Ritchie in the area – but the Scotland international’s drilled strike was brilliantly repelled by debutant David Button.
Smith was causing Toon’s new skipper Jamaal Lascelles problems and when he nodded down for Aluko in the area, all of Craven Cottage thought it would be 2-0 – only for Hanley to clear.
Smith was awarded a standing ovation when he came off on 68 minutes.
And moments later there was almost more to celebrate for the home fans as full-back Scott Malone came within a whisker of doubling the lead.
Benitez responded by bringing on kids Adam Armstrong, Rolando Aarons and £80,000 a week flop Jonjo Shelvey.
But nothing worked and Fulham should have wrapped it up when sub Lasse Vigen Christensen blazed over with minutes to go.
Ritchie wanted a penalty when his shot smashed into a defender in the final stages but there was nothing doing, leaving Benitez frustrated.
Those who thought Newcastle would waltz back into the Premier League will have to think again.
NEXT FIVE FIXTURES
Newcastle v Huddersfield – Aug 13 (Championship)
Newcastle v Reading – Aug 17 (Championship
Bristol v Newcastle – Aug 20 (Championship)
Newcastle v Brighton – Aug 27 (Championship)
Derby v Newcastle – Sep 10 (Championship)
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