Kevin McDonald: 'Cardiff City won't avoid Fulham's televised fixture'

Fulham midfielder Kevin McDonald has suggested that he wants his team to make a statement in the club's televised Championship fixture with Sunderland.

With two matches remaining, Fulham are one point adrift of second-placed Cardiff City but the Cottagers can move ahead of their rivals with victory over the Black Cats on Friday night.

McDonald has acknowledged that Fulham have a chance to steal an advantage in the promotion race, and thinks that Cardiff will have no choice but to watch the match in their team hotel ahead of their fixture with Hull City on Saturday afternoon.

The Scot told the London Evening Standard: "We know what it is like sitting in a hotel on Friday night, so they will be watching. There is nothing else to do. They will be watching and hoping Sunderland do them a favour, so it is up to us to get three points.

"If we win they will have an added bit of pressure when they play. I watched the first 20 minutes of their game on Tuesday but my head was going watching it and I was getting a bit stressed, and my missus was as well, so we turned it over and watched Liverpool and tried to relax. It was a nice result for us and a disappointing one for them."

Fulham head into the game having not suffered defeat in 22 matches.