Hello and welcome to Sports Mole’s live coverage of the Premier League game between Newcastle United and Fulham. It promises to be an interesting clash at St James’ Park with hosts Newcastle desperate for maximum points. Follow all the action live with our minute-by-minute text commentary.

Heading into today’s match, Alan Pardew’s Newcastle find themselves stranded just three points above the relegation zone in 15th place with 33 points from 31 matches. The Magpies lost their last competitive fixture 3-1 to Benfica in Portugal in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie on Thursday.

The loss to Benfica was also Newcastle’s third competitive defeat in a row. They had lost 4-0 to Manchester City away from home and 2-1 at Wigan Athletic in the Premier League prior to that match.

On the other hand, Fulham head into today’s match in good form. Martin Jol’s team are currently 10th in the Premier League standings with 39 points from 30 matches. The Cottagers are safe from relegation worries, the gap between them and the bottom three being nine points.

Fulham are also unbeaten in five matches and have won three and drawn six of their 15 away games in the Premier League so far this season.

In the corresponding fixture earlier this season, Fulham beat Newcastle 2-1 at Craven Cottage in December. Steve Sidwell scored for the home side after 19 minutes, but Hatem Ben Arfa restored parity nine minutes into the second half. However, Hugo Rodallega found the target in the 63rd minute to wrap up the points for Jol’s side. Sidwell, though, will miss today’s match because of suspension.

Team news coming up now...

NEWCASTLE UNITED STARTING XI: Krul; Simpson, S.Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon; Marveaux, Sissoko, Cabaye, Gutierrez; Gouffran, Cisse

FULHAM STARTING XI: Schwarzer; Riether, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise; Manolev, Enoh, Karagounis, Duff; Ruiz; Berbatov

NEWCASTLE SUBS: Elliot, Williamson, Anita, Bigirimana, Obertan, Campbell, Ameobi

FULHAM SUBS: Etheridge, Frimpong, Richardson, Hughes, Rodallega, Frei, Emanuelson

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has made just one change to his side that lost to Benfica on Thursday. Yoan Gouffran, who was cup-tied for the game in Portugal, replaces James Perch.

As for Fulham, manager Martin Jol has made two changes to his team that won against Queens Park Rangers in the West London derby last time out. The suspended Steve Sidwell and the injured Ashkan Dejagah are replaced by Stanislav Manolev and Eyong Enoh.

Some interesting stats for you, as we continue our buildup to the match that starts at 3pm. Fulham have won 55 and drawn one of the last 56 Premier League games they have led by two goals or more.

Fulham’s highest-ever finish in the Premier League was seventh back in 2010 under Roy Hodgson, and Bryan Ruiz is determined to better that record this campaign: “We really want to win on Sunday as it will put us in a very good position to try and catch ninth, eighth, or even seventh place.”

However, Ruiz admits that winning today will not be easy: “Newcastle are doing well in the Europa League which shows they are a good team. They had a bad period this season but they still have some very good players and we'll need to take care of them. But they have the pressure. We are playing well so if we do the things we've been doing then we can play with no pressure."

Newcastle boss Pardew is determined to bounce back from Thursday’s defeat: “The Fulham game is an important one for us, there is no doubt about that. We want to set ourselves up for Thursday - probably to do that, we are going to need to win.''

Lest we forget, this is not the only Premier League fixture today. It is half time between Liverpool and West Ham United and it is goalless at Anfield. The other game going on at the moment is at White Hart Lane, where Tottenham Hotspur are drawing 1-1 with Everton. Both games are being covered live here on Sports Mole.

Chelsea against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge kicks off at 3 pm, as does Newcastle versus Fulham, while Queens Park Rangers’ match against Wigan Athletic begins at 4.10pm. All games are, of course, live here on Sports Mole.

We are 20 minutes away from kickoff at St James’ Park where Newcastle United will be desperate to bag maximum points against Fulham to ease their relegation worries. The anticipation is already building...

PREDICTION I think that Newcastle will just about eke out a win today. Fulham are in form but the Magpies will prove to be formidable at home. I don’t really expect this to be a high quality match; Pardew’s side should do just enough to bag maximum points. 2-1 to Newcastle.

Less than 15 minutes left for kickoff at St James’ Park. So let’s take a quick look at how we can expect Newcastle and Fulham to line up this afternoon.

Newcastle will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Cisse will be the lone striker for the home side and he will be supported from attacking midfield by Gutierrez, Cabaye and Gouffran. Sissoko and Marveaux will be the two central midfielders, and Santon, Yanga-Mbiwa, Taylor and Simpson will be the four defenders. Krul is the Newcastle goalkeeper today.

Fulham will deploy a 4-4-1-1 system today. Riether, Senderos, Hangeland and Riise will be the four defenders, Manolev and Enoh, Karagounis and Duff will line up in midfield. Ruiz will play just in front of them and just behind Berbatov.

Just five minutes to kickoff at St James’ Park, as the two teams are getting ready to come out on the pitch.

The two teams are out, the formalities are underway and the game is all set to begin...

And the game gets underway!

Fulham hogging the possession at the moment, but largely in the midfield harmlessly.

MISS! Brilliant effort from Berbatov, as he receives the ball outside the Newcastle box, runs with it and then takes a shot, but narrowly failed to hit the target.

Santon tries to wriggle his way through a host of Fulham players but eventually gets dispossessed. The Italian full-back has really developed in the Premier League over the months since his move from Inter Milan.

Simpson makes a run down Fulham's left but his cross is too high for Cisse. Fairly cagey start at St James' Park.

As I predicted in my pre-match buildup, the game has been pretty scrappy and devoid of much quality. However, we are still in the early stages.

Newcastle earn a corner after some good work from Santon. Marveaux takes it for the home side but Hangeland nods it away.

CHANCE! Moussa Sissoko does well down the right flank, as he gets past his player and whips in a cross that Taylor heads towards goal, but fails to keep it on target.

Fifteen minutes gone at St James' Park, and it remains goalless between Newcastle and Fulham. The hosts, though, are looking more comfortable but have yet to really test the Cottagers' defence.

SUBSTITUTION The injury woes continue for Newcastle, as Davide Santon is replaced by Vurnon Anita. The Italian full-back has suffered what appears to be a hamstring injury.

Anita appears to move to central midfield and Jonas Gutierrez is being shifted to left-back. A strange move? Then again, Gutierrez has played as a full-back for the Argentina national team.

Sissoko tries his luck from 20 yards out, but fails to keep it on target. Newcastle still the more comfortable team this afternoon so far.

Now Cabaye goes for goal from 25 yards, but he also fails to be accurate with his attempt as the ball goes harmless wide.

We have reached the midway point of the first half, and it remains goalless between Newcastle and Fulham.

CHANCE! Oh, Newcastle almost go behind much against the run of play, I should add. A cross is whipped in from the left by Duff that Yanga-Mbiwa gets the touch to turn it out for a corner with Berbatov waiting for the ball. Fulham fail to construct anything productive from the corner.

Cisse has the ball at his feet inside the penalty area, but the referee deems that he was in an offside position when the cross was floated in. Good call that one!

MISS! Wonderful curling attempt from Cisse from the left as he is teed up by Sissoko. However, his shot goes just wide of the top right corner of the Fulham goal.

Half an hour gone at St James' Park and the deadlock is yet to be broken. Newcastle have had the better chances and are pushing forward. Fulham seem comfortable playing on the counter at the moment.

Cisse and Senderos seem to be arguing over the falling down of the latter and winning a free kick. The referee intervenes, calms things down and resumes play.

CHANCE! Another chance for Cisse, another wasted effort. Marveaux plays the striker through on goal, but his curling effort once again goes wide. He could have played the ball back to Marveaux really.

CHANCE! A cross is whipped from the right that Gouffran volleys on target, but unfortunately for him, his teammate Cabaye gets in the way and blocks his shot. It was a really good attempt.

And now Gouffran is caught offside as Cisse tries to send him through with a good ball from the right.

Fulham make a rare foray up front, Ruiz and Duff trying to combine with each other inside the Newcastle area, but the danger is averted in the end. The Cottagers have not made too many attacking moves in this half so far, but when they have, they have put the Magpies defence under pressure.

CHANCE! Good defending from Newcastle to keep the score goalless. Berbatov plays a good ball to Ruiz in a good position, but Yanga-Mbiwa brilliantly blocks his shot and turns it away for a corner.

SAVE! Brilliant save from Tim Krul, as he miraculously denies Stanislav Manolev from point-blank range after the latter found himself at the end of Giorgos Karagounis’s corner.

Just three minutes to half time at St James' Park. Fulham are now looking comfortable and are taking the game to hosts Newcastle.

Damien Duff has the ball again for Fulham down the left wing and he is once more booed by the Newcastle supporters. Every time he has been on the ball, he has been jeered by the home fans.

One minute of injury time has been awarded, as Newcastle’s counterattack is stopped short by Fulham.

It is goalless at half time and, in fairness, it seems to be a just result given how things panned out in the first half. Newcastle had the majority of the chances in the opening 45 minutes but not many of them were clear cut.

As for Fulham, they have played largely on the counter, soaking the Newcastle pressure before taking advantage of the loose ball to push forward. Martin Jol’s side, though, did end the half strongly.

Let’s take a look at some stats from the first half at St James’ Park. Newcastle had eight shots on goal compared to Fulham’s five, but none of them was on target. Only one of Fulham’s was. The hosts had three corners, while the visitors earned one fewer; Newcastle had 46% of the possession and Fulham had 54%.

If you have just joined us and want to get a brief rundown of how the first half panned out, here is our half-time report.

We are just minutes away from second-half action at St James' Park. It was goalless at the break and let's hope that we see a goal soon. I predicted a 2-1 win for Newcastle at the start of the match, I am still sticking to it!

The first half did liven up after its midway point, and let’s hope that the second half kicks into gear right from the start. The players are on the pitch now and the game will resume in a matter of minutes.

The second half is now underway...

YELLOW CARD Sissoko gets into the referee’s book right at the start of the second half for clattering into Enoh, who seems to be in pain. But he should be okay as the injury is not severe.

The game is back underway now, as Enoh returns to the pitch after getting pitchside medical treatment.

YELLOW CARD Now Philippe Senderos gets booked for a rather clumsy challenge on Sissoko. Two bookings in the space of a few minutes!

SUBSTITUTION Eyong Enoh is being forced to replace as he is hobbling on the pitch and cannot carry on any longer because of that challenge from Sissoko in the opening minutes of this half. Emmanuel Frimpong comes on in his place.

OFF THE CROSSBAR! Anita goes ever so close with a brilliant attempt from 25 yards out as a Fulham clearance falls to him. His deflected shot clips the Fulham crossbar and goes out for a corner.

CHANCE! Two chances in a minute for Newcastle! First Cisse earned his side another corner as he forces Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer into making a good save. From the second corner Steven Taylor heads wide.

Newcastle have imposed themselves on the match and are calling all the shots in the second half. Fulham have yet to conceive an attacking move in the opening 10 or so minutes of the second period.

MISS! Cisse is presented with a simple opportunity to tap the ball home after Gouffran rolls it into the Fulham box, but his first touch lets him down and Schwarzer bravely collects it.

CHANCE! Taylor forces Schwarzer into a near-post save as he shoots from inside the Fulham area with venom. Newcastle are all over their visitors now.

OFF THE POST! Dramatic scenes at St James' Park as Newcastle hit the post twice in the space of a few seconds! Yohan Cabaye floats in a corner that Gouffran heads towards goal. It hits Riether, then the post and comes back to Cisse, who smashes his shot against the post. So so unlucky for Newcastle.

Replays suggest that Gouffran’s header was handled by Riether, but I have seen it only once and I am not very sure. Perhaps it was a ball-to-hand and not hand-to-ball...

SAVE! Wonderful save from Newcastle goalkeeper Krul once again, as he keeps out Berbatov’s header from a Riise free kick.

SUBSTITUTION Newcastle make their second change of the afternoon. Shola Ameobi replaces Yoan Gouffran.

CHANCE! Ameobi gets into the action right from the start, as he takes an attempt on the Fulham goal with his left foot that tests Schwarzer.

Fifteen minutes of normal time remain at St James’ Park. It is still goalless between Newcastle United and Fulham. At this stage, one presumes that a single goal would settle the affair.

The second half has certainly been livelier than the first 45 minutes, with Newcastle continuing to dominate proceedings at St James’ Park. Fulham have hardly had any chance whatsoever in the second half and are firmly on the backfoot. Alan Pardew’s side are pressing on for the goal that should give them maximum points today.

CHANCE! Ameobi has another crack at the Fulham goal, this time with a header from a Danny Simpson’s cross. However, his downward header goes wide for a goal kick.

Danny Simpson goes for goal on his own with an ambitious effort from 30 yards after receiving the ball from Cabaye, but fails to keep it anywhere on target.

SUBSTITUTION Alan Pardew makes his final Newcastle change. Adam Campbell replaces Danny Simpson.

SUBSTITUTION Martin Jol makes another change for Fulham. Hugo Rodallega replaces Stanislav Manolev.

Berbatov is not looking happy at all at the fact that Riise decides to shoot from a narrow angle instead of squaring the ball to him when the Bulgarian was in a better position. It was one of the rare times that Fulham have actually pushed towards the Newcastle goal in the second half.

Newcastle’s appeal for a penalty is turned down by the referee, as Ameobi goes down under a challenge from Hangeland. Five minutes remain in this match – five minutes for Newcastle to grab the winner and ease their relegation worries.

SAVE! Wonderful save by Mark Schwarzer, who keeps out Moussa Sissoko’s header from point-blank range! Anita does brilliantly with a cross and Sissoko does likewise with his header, but there is no going past the Australian goalkeeper.

YELLOW CARD John Arne Riise goes into the referee’s book for his challenge on Marveaux.

We have played the first of the five minutes of injury time allocated by the fourth official. Four more minutes for Newcastle to carve out a win, four more minutes for Fulham to hold on.

Dramatic and jubilant scenes at St James’ Park as Newcastle United score in the third minute of injury time! It is Papiss Cisse who puts the ball in the back of the Fulham net! Cabaye finds himself with a loose clearance and shoots from 25 yards out, but Cisse controls his shot and then volleys home. Wonderful finish from the striker!

YELLOW CARD Cisse is shown the yellow card for excessive celebrations, but I am sure that he does not care.

It’s all over at St James’ Park as Newcastle United have defeated Fulham 1-0 in the Premier League. The home side were the better side for much of the match and were denied by the frame of the Cottagers’ goal no fewer than three times. However, Papiss Cisse popped up deep into injury time to wrap up the points for Alan Pardew’s side.

The result means that Newcastle have enhanced their chances of surviving in the Premier League for one more season at least and are now six points clear of the bottom three for the moment, while Fulham remain in mid-table.

I hope that you enjoyed our live coverage of the match here on Sports Mole. You can read the full match report here. Have a good evening. It’s goodbye from me for now.