Following a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage, Sunderland and Fulham meet for their FA Cup fourth-round replay at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night.
The Championship side led for much of the first meeting, but Fulham flexed their Premier League muscles to force a deserved replay, courtesy of Tom Cairney's stunning solo effort.
Match preview
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With the backing of the Wearside faithful behind them, Sunderland will fancy their chances of pushing Fulham all the way once again, having given a good account of themselves in the previous meeting.
Jack Clarke put the Black Cats ahead inside six minutes at Craven Cottage, and the Championship outfit continued to create plenty of chances against their Premier League opponents, recording six shots on target.
That said, Tony Mowbray's men failed to build on their impressive performance against Fulham, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Millwall last time out, managing a solitary attempt on target at The Den.
As a result, Sunderland find themselves ninth in the Championship table – two points shy of the playoff places – having registered 11 wins, nine draws and nine losses in the league this season.
The two-time FA Cup winners last reached the fifth round during the 2013-14 campaign, with their most recent triumph coming all the way back in 1972-73, although they did get their hands on the EFL Trophy in 2020-21.
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Although Sunderland put up a decent fight, Fulham can count themselves unfortunate to have drawn the first meeting, having racked up more than 20 shots while enjoying almost 70% possession at the Cottage.
However, Marco Silva's men were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal as the Championship side clung on to earn a replay on home soil.
Fulham made light work of Hull City in the third round, securing a comfortable 2-0 victory at the MKM Stadium, but Sunderland made the Premier League outfit work for their place in the competition.
The Cottagers head into the replay on the back of a well-earned goalless draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, meaning that they occupy eighth place in the Premier League table – two points above ninth-placed Chelsea.
Having chalked up four consecutive Premier League wins after the World Cup break, Fulham look destined to enjoy top-flight football next season, so they can afford to throw everything at their FA Cup campaign.
Team News
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Sunderland will be without the injured duo of Corry Evans and Ross Stewart for the rest of the season, while Lynden Gooch and Elliot Embleton remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.
With top scorer Stewart set to miss the remainder of the campaign with an Achilles injury, Jack Clarke and Amad Diallo will need to step up as the team's main attacking threats.
The Black Cats enjoyed a busy and successful winter transfer window, making three permanent signings and one loan move, with Joe Gelhardt arriving on loan from Leeds United.
Following his switch from Everton, centre-back Joe Anderson made his Sunderland debut at the weekend, with former Lille winger Isaac Lihadji and ex-West Ham United midfielder Pierre Ekwah yet to feature for the club.
Fulham, on the other hand, have reported no fresh injury problems ahead of Wednesday's clash, although Neeskens Kebano remains sidelined after suffering a ruptured Achilles.
Marco Silva made seven changes for the first meeting with Sunderland, but the Portuguese manager is expected to field a stronger starting XI this time around, as the Cottagers struggled to seal the deal on home soil.
Second-choice goalkeeper Marek Rodak is likely to come in for Bernd Leno between the sticks, while key striker Aleksandar Mitrovic could lead the line after being named on the bench for the previous meeting.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, Ballard, Batth, Alese; Neil, Michut; Roberts, Diallo, Clarke; Gelhardt
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Tete, Adarabioyo, Diop, Kurzawa; Cairney, Reed; Reid, Pereira, Willian; Mitrovic
We say: Sunderland 1-2 Fulham
Having held Chelsea to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge last time out, Fulham should book their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday, although Sunderland are expected to push the Premier League side all the way.
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Top tip
Ben Morris
