Barclays Premier League

FULL TIME SUMMARY

Fulham ran out deserved winners at Craven Cottage, beating Sunderland 1-0. The home side dominated the first half, with the trio of Zamora, Duff and Dempsey proving too much for the Mackem's back line. Zamora in particular had an inspired afternoon, and the former Brighton striker netted the game's only goal in the seventh minute, heading John Pantsil's cross past Marton Fulop. Sunderland were much improved after the break, creating decent openings for Darren Bent, but Fulham never looked seriously troubled and ended the game comfortable winners.

ANOTHER HOME WIN

It's another three points at the Cottage for Fulham, and another disappointing away performance from the Black Cats. Fulham climb to eighth in the Premier League table, Sunderland stay in tenth.

FULL TIME

Fulham 1, Sunderland 0.

FREE KICK - FULHAM

Clint Dempsey goes desperately close to grabbing a Fulham second, as his free kick flicks off the wall and flies inches wide of the target.

BOOKING

Phil Bardsley goes into Mike Dean's book for fouling Bobby Zamora.

CORNER - SUNDERLAND

Sunderland try a short corner, but the result is no different as Mark Schwarzer gathers the ball.

ADDED TIME

The fourth official's board goes up - we'll have four minutes of injury time at the Cottage.

CORNER - SUNDERLAND

Another Sunderland corner, another Schwarzer take, another super performance from the Fulham 'keeper.

ZENDEN SHOT

Great effort from Bolo Zenden, who cuts inside and stings the palms of Mark Schwarzer with a fizzing strike. The Aussie stopper can't hold the ball, but does well to smother it at the second attempt.

SUBSTITUTION

Another Fulham switch - Jonathan Greening is replaced by Kagisho Dikgacoi.

GREAT GOALKEEPING

Super goalkeeping from Mark Schwarzer, who relieves the pressure on his back four by coming to collect a Sunderland corner.

BACK ON THE PITCH

Nosworthy is back on the pitch, complete with a fresh, blood-free shirt.

BENT SHOT

Darren Bent fires off a shot from a free kick, but Zoltan Gera blocks the ball with an outstretched leg.

CLASH OF HEADS

Nosworthy and Dempsey are both down after clashing heads in an aerial challenge. The Sunderland man looks to have come off worse, suffering a cut which will need some attention from the medical staff.

WEATHERED THE STORM?

Fulham seem to have re-established a degree of control after the visitors had built up some pressure in the first 25 minutes of the half. Can Sunderland muster another charge in the last quarter of an hour?

SUBSTITUTION

Sunderland make their final change, bringing on Bolo Zenden for Kenwyne Jones.

GERA CHANCE

Zoltan Gera misses a decent chance, heading wide from Paul Konchesky's cross. The Hungarian should have tested Fulop with that one.

SUBSTITUTION

Steve Bruce makes a second switch, bringing on Frazier Campbell for Steed Malbranque. The visitors now have three centre-forwards on the pitch.

CONCENTRATION NEEDED

Some nice work from Jordan Henderson is undone by Andy Reid, who takes his eye off the ball and lets the young midfielder's pass bounce over his leg and out of play.

SUBSTITUTION

Roy Hodgson makes his first switch of the match, bringing on Zoltan Gera for Erik Nevland.

BARDSLEY CROSS

Phil Bardsley has got further down the pitch in this second half. The Sunderland full back sees a cross cleared by John Pantsil.

NEVLAND CHANCE

Erik Nevland has a chance to relieve the pressure by grabbing a second for the home side, but the Norwegian's shot from the edge of the area clears the crossbar by some distance.

WATCH OUT ROW Z

Another good opportunity for Darren Bent, who gets right under the ball and scoops a shot into the Putney End. The crowd loved that one, but Roy Hodgson will be concerned.

BENT CHANCE

Sunderland are now starting to build up some pressure at the Cottage. Kieran Richardson finds Darren Bent with a cross from the left, but the England striker flashes a shot inches wide of the post. That's the visitors best effort so far.

LUCKY ESCAPE

Paul Konchesky is a very lucky man. The Cottagers left-back plays a awful back-pass right into the path of Kenwyne Jones, but is saved by his goalkeeper Schwarzer who shows lightning-fast reactions to beat the former Southampton striker to the ball.

KONCHESKY CROSS

Paul Konchesky pumps the ball into the Sunderland box - Marton Fulop gathers the ball safely.

OUCH

Erik Nevland throws himself into blocking a cross, taking the ball right below the midriff. He'll need a couple of minutes to recover from that one...

BATTLING THE ELEMENTS

The weather has taken a turn for the worse in the capital, with heavy rain combining with the swirling wind to create tricky playing conditions. Meanwhile, Bobby Zamora continues to cause havoc, almost setting up Clint Dempsey with a neat chested pass.

FREE KICK - SUNDERLAND

Andy Reid whips a free kick into the Fulham box, but Kenwyne Jones can only flick the ball into the arms of Mark Schwarzer.

HIGH TEMPO START

Sunderland fly out of the blocks at the beginning of the half, with Bent and Malbranque both attempting shots which are blocked by the Fulham defence. Steve Bruce has clearly had words...

KICK OFF - SECOND HALF

We're back playing in west London.

SOME HALF TIME STATS

The shot tally in this match currently reads Fulham 13, Sunderland 3. Nonetheless, the Black Cats only trail by one goal in the only stat that really counts...

HALF TIME SUMMARY

Fulham lead 1-0 at the break at Craven Cottage, after dominating the first 45 minutes. Bobby Zamora has been the stand out player, terrorising the Black Cats defence, whilst Duff and Dempsey have provided a constant threat from both flanks. It was Zamora who grabbed the only goal, heading home in the seventh minute, but the former West Ham striker almost grabbed a second when he nodded against the bar just before half time. Erik Nevland also missed a pair of sitters for the Cottagers, firing at Marton Fulop, then over the bar moments before the break. Steve Bruce will be dismayed at another lacklustre away performance, but can take heart from the fact that the Mackems are only one goal in arrears.

HALF TIME

Fulham 1, Sunderland 0.

CORNER - SUNDERLAND

Sunderland win a corner right at the end of the half, leading to some uneasy mutterings around the ground. The Fulham fans needn't worry, as Mark Schwarzer makes an easy save from Malbranque's tame shot.

TWO GREAT CHANCES

How did that stay out? The ball falls to Erik Nevland from a Fulham free kick, but the Norwegian fires his first shot straight at Fulop, before skying the follow-up high over the crossbar. The Cottagers could live to regret these missed chances...

HIT THE BAR!

Fulham are getting ever closer to grabbing a second at the Cottage. Again, Zamora is the dangerman, heading an effort against the crossbar.

LOVELY SKILL

Zamora's quick feet prove too much for Cana, who ends up hauling the former Hammer to the ground.

NEEDED THE FINISHING TOUCH

Bobby Zamora wins yet another header in the Sunderland penalty area, knocking the ball across the six yard box from a Greening corner. Fulop's goal is left gaping, but there are no white shirts to turn the ball into the unguarded net. A lucky escape for the visitors.

RICHARDSON EFFORT

Andy Reid curls a free kick into the Fulham penalty area, which Schwarzer half-punches clear. The ball falls to Kieran Richardson, but the former Manchester United man fails to hit the target with his weaker right foot.

DUFF SHOT

More dangerous play on the right wing from Damien Duff, who blasts a shot wide of Fulop's goal.

CORNER - SUNDERLAND

Bizarre decision from the linesman, who awards the visitors a free kick despite the ball clearly going out of play off Steed Malbranque's arm. Fortunately for Fulham - and the officials - Mark Schwarzer does well to claim Andy Reid's delivery.

FREE KICK - FULHAM

Nosworthy almost makes a catastrophic start, bringing down Zamora less than a yard outside of the Sunderland penalty area. Dempsey, who has been in the goals lately, takes the free kick, but his effort flies over the crossbar.

SUBSTITUTION

Anton Ferdinand is unable to continue after Nevland's challenge, and limps off down the tunnel. Nyron Nosworthy comes on to replace the former West Ham defender.

DEMPSEY SHOT

Clint Dempsey almost makes it 2-0, flashing a shot just wide of Fulop's post. More good work in the build-up from Zamora - the Fulham striker's having a really good game here.

BOOKING

Erik Nevland catches Anton Ferdinand late, and goes straight into Mike Dean's book. A silly tackle, and the correct decision from the referee.

NEVLAND SHOT

More good work from Bobby Zamora, who beats Anton Ferdinand in the air to knock the ball down at the feet or Erik Nevland. The Norwegian takes a shot, but the ball flies high and wide of the goal.

SCOUTING MISSION

Giovanni Trapattoni has been spotted in the crowd at Craven Cottage, presumably keeping an eye on Damien Duff and the currently-exiled Andy Reid.

HITTING IT LONG

Sunderland are trying to hit the ball over the top, with Bent and Jones running the channels. Bent is certainly quick and Jones is an imposing physical presence, but Hughes and Hangeland are looking untroubled at the moment.

GIVING HIM THE RUN-AROUND

Kieran Richardson, who is playing as a makeshift full-back, is being caused all sorts of problems by Damien Duff. Steve Bruce may be forced into a tactical rethink, as Fulham are looking really dangerous down that right flank.

CORNER - SUNDERLAND

The visitors win the first corner of the game, as Hughes heads Bardsley's cross behind. Andy Reid takes the kick, which Erik Nevland scrambles clear.

BOOKING

Kieran Richardson is booked for hacking down Damien Duff. It's a poor challenge, and Richardson is going to have to be careful for the next 80 minutes.

GOOD TAKE

Andy Reid finds himself in a promising position as the Black Cats look for an immediate reply to that Zamora opener. The Irishman's cross in decent, but Schwarzer does well to claim the ball.

GOAL - ZAMORA

Fulham take an early lead a Craven Cottage! Neat interplay between Damien Duff and John Pantsil creates some space on the Fulham right, before the Cottagers full-back crosses for Bobby Zamora who nods past the helpless Fulop. Fulham 1, Sunderland 0.

MALBRANQUE CHANCE

Industrious work from Lorik Cana wins the ball on the edge of the Fulham box, allowing Malbranque to test Schwarzer with a stinging shot. A fine save from the Aussie 'keeper.

DEMPSEY SHOT

Clint Dempsey cuts in from the left and fires off a shot from 25 yards. The ball drifts wide of the target and Marton Fulop leaves well alone.

NOT A POPULAR MAN...

A few early touches for Steed Malbranque, who receives some half-hearted booing from the home fans. They obviously haven't forgotten the Sunderland midfielder's rather acrimonious departure from Craven Cottage.

KICK OFF

The game begins at Craven Cottage.

TEAM NEWS - SUNDERLAND

Kenwyne Jones returns to the Sunderland starting XI after serving a three match ban, joining Darren Bent in attack as Steve Bruce reverts to a 4-4-2 formation. Anton Ferdinand plays at centre-half at the expense of Paulo da Silva, while Kieran Richardson covers for the absent George McCartney at left-back.

TEAM NEWS - FULHAM

Roy Hodgson makes six changes to the side that beat CSKA Sofia 1-0 on Thursday evening. Paul Konchesky and Aaron Hughes return to the Cottagers defence, while Jonathan Greening, Damien Duff and goal-machine Clint Dempsey all slot into the midfield. Erik Nevland comes into the team to partner Bobby Zamora in attack.

FULL LINE-UP - SUNDERLAND

Fulop, Bardsley, Richardson, Turner, Ferdinand, Reid, Malbranque, Cana (C), Henderson, Bent, Jones. Subs: Carson, Nosworthy, Zenden, Campbell, Murphy, Da Silva, Healy.

FULL LINE-UP - FULHAM

Schwarzer, Konchesky, Pantsil, Hangeland, Baird, Nevland, Duff, Hughes (C), Dempsey, Zamora, Greening. Subs: Zuberbuhler, Ki-Hyeon, Gera, Murphy, Riise, Smalling, Dikgacoi.

REF WATCH

Mike Dean, from Merseyside, will be the official for this afternoon's contest. Mr Dean made a trip to Spain in midweek to referee the Europa League tie between Valencia and Lille.

INJURIES AND SUSPENSIONS

Fulham's Simon Davies faces a late fitness test after picking up a knock in Thursday's victory over CSKA Sofia, but Clint Dempsey, Damien Duff and Aaron Hughes should all return to the starting line-up. John Mensah will miss out for the visitors, due to a calf problem, although Kenwyne Jones should be fit to start despite suffering a dead leg whilst appearing for the reserves in midweek.

THE MACKEMS' MAIN MAN

Darren Bent has been the key man for Sunderland this season, netting nine goals in the Premier League already and earning a recall to the England set-up. However, the former Spurs man has, like his team, struggled to really hit form away from home, scoring only three on the road this season. You feel Bent will need to be at his most lethal this afternoon if the Black Cats are to return to Wearside with all three points.

SIGNING ON

Fulham fans will be pretty chipper after the events of the last week, as three of the men at the heart of the club's Premier League revival are set to extend their stay at Craven Cottage. Central defenders Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland, who have been rock solid at the back for the last 18 months, have signed new deals which will see them remain with the west London outfit until 2013. Better still is the news that manager Roy Hodgson has also agreed terms to extend his deal, and looks set to continue at the Cottage for the foreseeable future.

PREVIEW

Steve Bruce's Sunderland will aim to end a run of poor away results this afternoon, as the Mackems travel south to Craven Cottage to take on Roy Hodgson's Fulham. Bruce's men have been in cracking form at the Stadium of Light, but if the Black Cats want to be playing European football next season they'll need to sort out their performances on the road – Sunderland have won only once away from home this term, compared to an impressive tally of five victories on their own patch. Similarly, Fulham are in excellent form at Craven Cottage, picking up eye-catching home victories over Liverpool, Blackburn and CSKA Sofia in the past few weeks. With only a solitary point separating these sides in the Premier League table, we're sure to be in for a close game where the odd piece of brilliance could make all the difference. Kick off is at 1500GMT.