Fulham have moved into eighth in the Premier League table with a 2-1 win over Sunderland on Sunday.
It was the away side who started the better and they might have led with an effort from Stephane Sessegnon after six minutes, but his free kick drifted wide.
Damien Duff had the home side's first real chance after seven minutes, but Simon Mignolet made a smart save to turn the ball wide, before Moussa Dembele had a chance of his own.
Fulham continued to dominate the early stages and they took the lead after 12 minutes when Clint Dempsey struck a wonderful free kick into the top corner.
Dempsey might have extended the home side's lead after 20 minutes, but he struck wide, before Sessegnon brought the best out of Mark Schwarzer moments later.
Pavel Pogrebnyak and Dempsey so nearly made it 2-0 to the Cottagers after 26 minutes, but both efforts just drifted wide of the post.
Sunderland were level, however, after 34 minutes when Phillip Bardsley struck a wonderful effort into the top corner.
Fulham moved back ahead moments later in a sensational period of play, when Dembele found the top corner from just outside the box.
The home side might have moved further ahead moments before the interval with an effort from Duff, but it remained 2-1 at the break.
Pogrebnyak might have added Fulham's third after 52 minutes when he connected with a Duff cross, but John O'Shea made a smart block.
Duff came close with an effort of his own after 57 minutes, but Mignolet was on hand to make the save.
Sunderland began to exert a spell of pressure as the half advanced, and James McClean so nearly levelled after 63 minutes, but Schwarzer made the save.
Nicklas Bendtner had a golden chance for Sunderland after 73 minutes, but he fired wide from just outside the box, before Fraizer Campbell fired wide with 10 minutes remaining.
Chances remained few and far between in the latter stages, with the home side securing all three points.
Matt Law
