Referee Webb ruled out the strike for a foul on goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer by Kevin Nolan, although television replays suggested Shearer’s side were desperately unfortunate.

Perhaps significantly, Webb was fourth official at St James’ Park on Monday evening when Nolan’s block on Matthew Bates allowed Steven Taylor to equalise and set his side on the road to a 3-1 derby win over Middlesbrough.

Manager Shearer and assistant Iain Dowie confronted the official as he left the pitch, and the manager was still fuming when he conducted his post-match press conference.

He said: “We are bitterly disappointed at the disallowed goal.

“I have seen it and I can’t see anything that’s wrong with it.

“Probably what has happened is the goal on Monday night from Steven Taylor has been highlighted that much this week that one or two people have thought, ’We might try to clamp down on that this weekend’.

“You are allowed to put someone in front of the goalkeeper – I am not aware that you are meant to get out of the way of him.

“I thought their player was blocking him more than Kevin Nolan was, so I am disappointed with that.”

Asked if he had managed to speak to Webb, Shearer said: “Not yet, but I am going to try.

“I thought he got the big decision wrong today. When he looks at it, he might think that as well.”

The game’s two most contentious decisions came in nine minutes either side of half-time, and both went against the Magpies.

First, Diomansy Kamara looked to be in an offside position when he collected Erik Nevland’s pass with only Steven Taylor between him and the goal, and fired the visitors in front.

Both Shearer and opposite number Roy Hodgson, however, thought the officials got that one right.

And it was five minutes after the break that Webb infuriated the home side by chalking off what Viduka thought was a perfectly good equaliser.

Newcastle’s cause looked a forlorn one when Sebastien Bassong was sent off for a professional foul on Kamara with half an hour remaining, although Schwarzer pulled off superb saves to deny Martins, who had earlier hit the post, and Nicky Butt.

The Magpies find themselves back inside the bottom three and need to get a better result at Aston Villa next Sunday than Hull, who face champions Manchester United at the KC Stadium.

Shearer said: “It’s out of our hands. We have got to better Hull next weekend. Whatever they do, we have got to better them.

“But it ain’t over. I am sure there are going to be twists and turns next Sunday afternoon.

“But that’s football, isn’t it? From the highs on Monday evening and this week, we have been brought back down to earth again.

“I was always aware of ’after the Lord Mayor’s Show’, and we have tried to do everything to make sure that wasn’t the case.

“But we were playing against a very good Fulham side who are well organised.”

Fulham boss Hodgson was delighted with the way his side held out in the face of a late onslaught.

He said: “We came here to some extent as sacrificial lambs today.

“It was a great win here today. I feel sorry for Newcastle – they deserved better, we rode our luck on several occasions.

“We are thankful for a very good performance from our back four and goalkeeper.”