Matt Smith's first half injury-time header propelled Fulham to a 1-0 win over Newcastle United at Craven Cottage, sending Slavisa Jokanovic's team to the top of the Championship.

The loss will come as a reality check for Rafa Benitez's ambitious Newcastle, widely-tipped to earn automatic promotion back to the Premier League, from which it was relegated last season.

But when Smith latched onto Tom Cairney's cross in the dying embers of the opening stanza to give the home side the match-winning lead, it appeared the journey back to the top flight would be anything but straightforward.

Newcastle would feel aggrieved that it had two clear-cut penalty chances waved away by the referee.