Slavisa Jokanovic says Fulham’s opening-day win over Newcastle is irrelevant now

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The Cottagers face the Magpies in the return fixture at St. James’ Park on Saturday.

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic has told the club’s official website that the fact that his side beat Newcastle United on the opening day of the season means nothing ahead of the reverse fixture.

The Cottagers stunned the relegated Magpies with a 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage in the first fixture of the new Championship season in August, thanks to Matt Smith’s headed winner.

However, since then Rafa Benitez’s men have lost just six more times in 35 subsequent Championship games, and currently sit three points clear at the top of the table.

Jokanovic’s Fulham are not doing too badly themselves, sitting just outside the playoff spots in seventh, but the Serbian boss admitted that he faces a tough task trying to outwit Benitez.

Jokanovic told Fulham’s website: “I am not surprised [that they’re top]. They made great investments, they are a big club and they deserve to be where they are right now.

“I know [Rafa Benitez], I have had the opportunity to speak with him and I know him from when we played the first game at the beginning of the Championship. He is a big name in our competition, he is a quality coach, he is successful, he is a winner of the Champions League and many trophies. He is a very good manager but my job is to try and find a way to beat him.”

Jokanovic is clearly still proud of his side’s result against Saturday’s opponents back in August, but was quick to stress that the victory means nothing seven months on.

He continued: “It was the beginning of the Championship, we won three points. After that game we played many games, and in that moment of the competition no-one knew who was who, and we’ve gone and surprised them a little bit.

“It was a good night for ourselves but this was many months ago and now it’s a different situation, a different moment in the competition and now we must be ready for what is here in front of us.”

Newcastle could potentially extend their lead at the top to six points if they win and Brighton lose to Derby County, while Fulham will be desperate for a good result to close the gap between themselves and the final playoff spot.