Shelvey, Perez, Schar and Rondon net in Toon romp as Cottagers drop to Championship with a whimper

RAFA BENITEZ heads into this week’s crunch talks with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley boosted by the club’s biggest top-flight away win of his tenure.

And the Toon faithful made their feelings strongly known to the distrusted billionaire boss watching in the Craven Cottage stands by chanting: “Rafa Benitez – we want you to stay.”

It’s still not known for sure if the Spaniard will remain next season or if he will decide to walk away from St James’ Park dissatisfied with the direction of the club under the present management.

Benitez will soon meet with retail magnate Ashley to thrash out his future and to secure a substantial war-chest for his summer’s spending plans.

And if anything he will be buoyed by the performance here at relegated Fulham which secured Newcastle’s highest Premier League points tally for five seasons.

Newcastle essentially sealed the result by 11 minutes thanks to two goals within the space of three first-half minutes.

It all started on nine minutes when Matt Ritchie’s corner eluded everyone in the penalty area and instead found Jonjo Shelvey on the edge of the penalty area.

After taking one touch to control the ball, the England midfielder then crashed home one of the goals of the season.

His shot was so venomous and accurate that probably no Premier League goalkeeper would have saved it, let alone the Fulham stopper Sergio Rico.

Shelvey doesn’t score many but when he does they are usually spectacular and worth the wait.

Moments later, the score was doubled and Fulham were left shell-shocked, frustrated by their own defensive incompetence.

The initial shot from Christian Atsu was blocked by the legs of Rico but only as far as Ayoze Perez. Like any great poacher does, the Spaniard reacted quickest to slide the ball home.

The third goal came just after the hour mark and sealed the night of partying for the Newcastle fans, many of whom had travelled to London along riverboat booze cruises.

Ritchie delivered the corner and Fabian Schar outjumped Fulham defender Alfie Mawson for his fourth Premier League goal this season.

Then, in what could be his last match for the club, on-loan striker Salomon Rondon scored from close range after his first shot had been stopped by Rico for his 12th goal of the campaign.

If Benitez stays and is given the cheques he badly wants, then he would be well advised to look at Fulham and their misgivings with the cash this season.

Fulham splashed £100m-plus last summer and yet will be heading to the Championship.

Many Fulham stars will be on their way out this season and Scott Parker, recently installed as the new permanent boss, has a difficult task to sort the key players from the unmotivated ones.

Certainly Ryan Sessegnon is likely to be the subject of fierce bidding this summer.

But Fulham’s billionaire owner Shahid Khan wants Premier League promotion with no excuses, telling Parker: “We intend nothing less.”