Jonjo Shelvey scored a rare Premier League goal as Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United thrashed Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Fulham boss Scott Parker might have been on the wrong end of a humiliating home defeat on Sunday but he still found the time to praise the stunning Jonjo Shelvey goal which set Newcastle United on their way to a 4-0 win, in quotes reported by The Chronicle.
The Magpies claimed their biggest top flight away victory of Rafa Benitez’s four years at the helm during the final day of the Premier League season, running riot at Craven Cottage against a Fulham side whose relegation was confirmed last month.
Ayoze Perez, Fabian Schar and Salomon Rondon all found the target but Shelvey’s opening goal was undoubtedly the best of the lot. The England international reminded everyone of his mercurial talent with a sublime volley which nestled into the top corner from the edge of the area.
And even Parker was impressed.
“I think it was a harsh scoreline, but it is what it is. I don’t think it really reflected the game but, on saying that, we got to the final third really well but we lacked a cutting edge about us at times,”said the former Newcastle captain, who was named Fulham’s permanent manager last week.
“Ultimately they’ve got some good players who obviously hit us on the break, they scored with a world class strike for the first, and it proved costly.”
There is no doubting Shelvey’s ability but it seems his attitude has often cost him a place in Benitez’s starting XI with the playmaker’s future still up in the air.
The Sun (3 March, page 69) reported that the former Liverpool youngster is set to sign for West Ham this summer in a £20 million deal.
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