Sunderland headed down to Fulham this afternoon without a win away from home in the Premier League this season.
That run of negative results was ended at Craven Cottage though as goals from Steven Fletcher, Carlos Cuellar and Stephane Sessegnon helped the Black Cats claim all three points against their hosts, who were reduced to 10 men during the first half.
Find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Afternoon all. Another weekend has almost been and gone! However, not before Fulham and Sunderland do battle at Craven Cottage.
Before we look into the facts and figures, the team news has just been released...
FULHAM X1: Schwarzer; Riether, Riise, Hangeland, Hughes; Sidwell, Karagounis, Kacaniklic, Duff; Ruiz, Berbatov
No real surprises in that Fulham lineup, although the inclusion of Giorgos Karagounis was not anticipated by too many. Elsewhere, Dimitar Berbatov and Bryan Ruiz will continue their partnership in attack.
SUNDERLAND XI: Mignolet; Bardsley, Rose, Cuellar, O'Shea; Cattermole, Colback, Larsson, Johnson, Sessegnon; Fletcher
Like the Fulham team, there are no major shocks in the Sunderland starting lineup. Lee Cattermole has been passed fit and will start in the midfield. However, James McClean will have to settle for a slot on the bench.
Sticking with Sunderland - they've been in somewhat of a slump for the majority of the campaign. Nobody in the country has scored less goals and they have just one Premier League win to their name since March.
Former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips has just been talking about the club's plight on Sky Sports News and it would be fair to say that he didn't hold back! He was critical of Adam Johnson and McClean for not getting enough quality crosses in for Steven Fletcher. He also said that there has been "a lack of quality" throughout the team. Pretty damning stuff.
There has been no such problems for Fulham. After losing Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele to Tottenham Hotspur, they were in danger of having very little goalscoring threat. The signing of Berbatov has been a real coup though and the Bulgarian has added a touch of class to the Fulham attack.
They also have had the better of Sunderland in recent meetings. The last time the Black Cats defeated Fulham was back in 2009 thanks to a strike from Kenwyne Jones. Since then, Fulham have won three, while the other three encounters have ended 0-0.
You have to go back a little further to find Sunderland's last win at the Cottage. That was achieved in 2008 courtesy of a 3-1 success on the banks of the Thames. How Martin O'Neill could do with another one today. There is a lot of pressure on him at the moment.
Here's a stat that is a little surprising. Sunderland are the only team in the Premier League that have not scored a headed goal this season. With Steven Fletcher in their side, that's strange. Although, it does go back to what Phillips was saying earlier about lack of quality crosses.
Right here come the players. They are making the long walk from the changing rooms, right across the pitch to the halfway line for the pre-match handshakes.
Sunderland will get the match underway...
Neither side has posed much of an attacking threat during the opening exchanges at the Cottage. Fulham have had more of the ball though and have seen a glancing header from Berbatov go wide.
Sunderland are struggling to get a foothold in the game at the moment. Fulham are seeing a lot of the ball with Berbatov and Karagounis at the heart of everything they do.
It's still all Fulham, with Berbatov looking threatening. However, they are yet to create anything clear cut.
Sunderland are now enjoying a spell in possession. They're not exactly going anywhere with it, but at least they are now competing.
SAVE! Berbatov produces a superb first time pass for Steve Sidwell, who stabs the ball goalwards from 18 yards out. His effort is tame though and Simon Mignolet is able to collect with ease.
Apart from that chance for Sidwell, there's been very little happening at the Cottage. In truth it has been a disappointing start - particularly from Sunderland.
SUBSTITUTION: An early injury-forced swap for Fulham as Alexander Kacaniklic limps off and Hugo Rodallega comes on.
RED CARD! Brede Hangeland (Fulham)
All of a sudden we've got some drama at the Cottage. Norwegian defender Hangeland is handed his marching orders for a lunging challenge on Lee Cattermole. Makes a change actually, it's usually Cattermole committing the fouls!
CHANCE! Berbatov is unusually wasteful as he sends an inch-perfect cut back from Duff straight at Mignolet. Either side of the keeper there and he would have scored.
SUBSTITUTION: Another change for Fulham in what is a reaction to that sending off. Midfielder Karagounis comes off and Philippe Senderos comes on the bolster the defence.
After that drama-ridden spell of five minutes or so, the game has gone back to how it was before. Both sides are lacking in urgency.
CHANCE! A big opportunity for Sunderland goes a begging. Stephane Sessegnon breaks free inside the area, but his low cross for Fletcher is poor and the danger is cleared. Had he got the pass right, Fletcher would have had the easiest of tap-ins.
CHANCE! Almost for Berbatov. He takes one touch in the area before dragging his low shot across the goal and just wide of the target.
There will be a minimum of two minutes of stoppage time...
HALF-TIME: Fulham 0-0 Sunderland
The referee's whistle is greeted with jeers from the home faithful because of his decision to send off Hangeland. That's been about the only talking point so far in what has been a rather dull game in truth. Let's hope the second half offers a bit more!
While we wait for the players to re-emerge, here's our half-time report of all the events at the Cottage so far.
Right, the players are back out. Fulham will get the second half off and running. Let's hope it's a better standard this time around!
GOAL! Fulham 0-1 Sunderland (Fletcher)
Just moments after Riise hits the bar for Fulham, Sunderland go up the other end and take the lead. Adam Johnson threads through a pass for Steven Fletcher, who takes the ball in his stride before slotting the ball into the bottom corner. That was a very composed finish.
BOOKING! Cattermole has been in the wars today! This time Sidwell goes into the book for a late challenge on the Sunderland midfielder.
Bit of an injury concern for Fulham as Ruiz goes down clutching his hamstring. He's now on his feet following some treatment but he doesn't look comfortable at all.
BOOKING! First yellow card for Sunderland as Johnson gets his name taken for kicking the ball away after he had been flagged offside.
SUBSTITUTION: And that is game over for Ruiz. His place has been taken by Petric. Meanwhile, Sunderland go close to getting a second as Johnson's curling effort is pushed wide Schwarzer.
Fulham 1-1 Sunderland (Petric)
One of the first things you are taught is to play to the whistle. However, someone forgot to tell the Sunderland players. They think Duff is offside but there is no flag and the Irish winger crosses for substitute Petric, who slots in from close range. That's very poor from Sunderland.
GOAL! Fulham 1-2 Sunderland (Cuellar)
I asked for a better second half and thank goodness we have got one! Sunderland are back in front following Cuellar's header from a corner that goes into the net via the post.
GOAL! Fulham 1-3 Sunderland (Sessegnon)
What a goal! Sessegnon has done virtually nothing all game and all of a sudden he produces a wonder strike to put Fulham 3-1 up following a quick break. That should be game over.
BOOKING! A deserved yellow card for O'Shea for a trip on Rodallega on the edge of the area. The resultant freekick comes to nothing.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Fletcher thinks he's got his second of the afternoon as he slides in a cross from Johnson, only for the linesman's flag to cut short the celebrations.
SAVE! Sidwell really should have hauled Fulham back into the contest. Berbatov threads him through but the midfielder takes too long inside the area and Mignolet comes out to deny him.
SUBSTITUTION: A change for Sunderland as David Vaughan takes the place of Jack Colback, who had a quiet game.
SAVE! Mignolet again comes to Sunderland's rescue to deny Petric, who turned Cuellar far too easily before he went through on goal.
BOOKING! It wouldn't be a Sunderland match without Cattermole going into the book would it?! He sees yellow here for a challenge on Berbatov.
There will be a minimum of four minutes stoppage time at the Cottage...
Fulham are pushing for a route back into the match but as yet the Sunderland defence are standing strong.
FULL TIME: Fulham 1-3 Sunderland
Considering where they were at the start of play, that is a huge three points for Sunderland. It wasn't always pretty, but Martin O'Neill's side did more than enough against 10-man Fulham.
That's all we have time for from Craven Cottage. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and be sure to check out our analysis of this match, which will be coming your way shortly.
Written by
Liam Apicella
Liam Apicella
