Smith’s header gives Fulham victory

Fulham 1 Newcastle 0

Matt Smith’s towering header gave Fulham victory in the opening game of the Championship season.

The striker rose to meet Tom Cairney’s corner in first-half stoppage time after Sone Aluko had gone close with a long-range shot.

The Whites should have had a second when Scott Malone missed past the far post with only the keeper to beat on 70 minutes.

And new goalkeeper David Button had to make two superb saves, one of them deep in stoppage time, to help Fulham secure their first opening-day win since 2013.

Aluko, Malone and Button were three of seven summer signings making their competitive debuts, with Denis Odoi, Tomas Kalas, Kevin McDonald and Floyd Ayite also starting.

Both sides struggled to create chances until the impressive Aluko found space on the edge of the box and forced Matz Sels into a decent save.

But the Magpies’ new keeper was powerless to stop Smith, who spent most of last season out on loan, from sending the hosts into the lead.

Button, who joined from Brentford last month, denied Matt Ritchie low down with his legs as the visitors pushed for an equaliser in the second half

Aluko was unlucky to see his effort saved before setting up Malone – a summer signing from Cardiff – with a neat one-two and then Button clawed away Rolando Aaron’s chip towards the far corner.