Long-range efforts by Mendes and Papa Bouba Diop gave West Ham keeper Robert Green something to do.
Fulham boss Chris Coleman made an inevitable change after 56 minutes, sending on Wayne Routledge for the disappointing Papa Bouba Diop.
Papa Bouba Diop dropped down to the bench, along with Younes Kaboul, but if any concerns that the big midfielder would be missed were soon dispelled.
In Monrovia, Senegal took the lead through midfielder Pape Bouba Diop who headed a cross from Abdoulaye Faye past Liberian goalkeeper Louis Crayton after 37 minutes.
In fact, Diouf and his two runners-up from last year - Ahmed Mido Hossam of Egypt and Senegal's Pape Bouba Diop - failed to make the shortlist.
Papa Bouba Diop was booked for hacking down Young as he broke directly towards goal after 73 minutes and the young winger tested James from the resulting free-kick.
As Newcastle laboured Fulham continued to create the more dangerous chances and Papa Bouba Diop's long-distance shot almost surprised Given, who made an unconventional save with his knees.
By the time the 2009 January window arrived, Adams had won just two of 11 league games, and had lost midfielder Papa Bouba Diop to a serious knee injury.
Tim Cahill was also shown a yellow card by referee Peter Walton for a crude challenge on Papa Bouba Diop as Everton became frustrated at their failure to find any rhythm going forward.
The 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists also missed a penalty in the second half with Pape Bouba Diop blasting his spot kick against the bar after Ibrahima Faye was brought down in the box.
Portsmouth had won only one of their previous nine league games and it was easy to see why when Papa Bouba Diop failed to clear a long pass forward and Rocha inadvertently clipped Bent's heels as he raced through on goal.
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