Preview: Fulham vs. Sunderland

Fulham will be keen to continue their impressive season on Sunday when they host Sunderland at Craven Cottage.

Martin Jol's side are currently ninth in the Premier League with 16 points from 11 matches, level on points with Arsenal and just a point behind behind another London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

On the other hand, Martin O'Neill's Sunderland are just three points above the relegation zone in 16th place, although they do have a game in a hand.

Fulham will head into Sunday's encounter having lost just two of their last 10 league matches at home, while the Black Cats have won just one of their last 18 games in the Premier League and have yet to win away this season.

The hosts will be without winger Kieran Richardson with a hamstring injury, while Mahamadou Diarra is still a doubt with a knee problem. Chris Baird is suspended for Fulham and Simon Davies is recovering from a hip operation.

Sunderland could be without Steven Fletcher and Phil Bardsley because of ankle and hamstring injuries respectively.

Craig Gardner is suspended for the visitors, but Lee Cattermole could recover from his knee injury to face Fulham.

Recent form

Fulham: DWDDD

Sunderland: DDLLL

Possible starting lineups:

Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise, Sidwell, Riether, Dejagah, Ruiz, Kacaniklic, Berbatov

Sunderland: Mignolet, O'Shea, Bramble, Cuellar, Rose, Colback, Larsson, Johnson, Sessegnon, McClean, Saha

Sports Mole says: 2-1