Barclays Premier League

A PENALTY APIECE

Sunderland and Fulham scored a penalty apiece as the two sides battled to a hard-earned 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light. Fulham were the better side in the first half and went ahead in the 15th minute when Craig Gardner scythed down Ashkan Dejagah inside the area, Dimitar Berbatov dinking home the penalty. Sascha Riether made it two with a calm finish after Simon Mignolet had parried a Dejagah effort, but a minute later Sunderland scored their own penalty when Phillipe Senderos tugged back Danny Graham. Craig Gardner converted it with ease. The Black Cats came back strongly after half time and grabbed an equaliser in the 70th minute, Adam Johnson playing Stephane Sessegnon in to slot past Mark Schwarzer. Both sides threatened after that but it was to finish a stalemate; both would surely agree that it was a fair result.

FULL TIME SUNDERLAND 2 FULHAM 2

The final whistle blows to signal the end of a gripping game. It's finished 2-2 here at the Stadium of Light.

WASTED OPPORTUNITY

The Black Cats get the chance to create one last opportunity with a free kick in an advanced position, but Larsson's whipped set-piece is poor and easily cleared away.

SUNDERLAND PRESSING

Sunderland are looking the more likely to score in these closing moments. James McClean manages to make some headway down the left but can only play the ball out for a goal kick when attempting a flick to Sessegnon.

YELLOW CARD

Sascha Riether takes one for the team, the German hauling down the sprinting Sessegnon as Sunderland threatened to hit their opponents on the break. A yellow card is the result.

SUBSTITUTION

Dejagah makes way for Hugo Rodallega.

SUPERB EFFORT

Sebastian Larsson drives through the centre with the ball at his feet and goes for goal with a tremendous effort that only just clears the angle of post and bar.

SUBSTITUTION

Urby Emanuelson replaces Damien Duff in a late switch for Fulham.

NO PENALTY

Gardner lets fly with a shot from 18 yards that deflects first off Johnson and then Emmanuel Frimpong to fly out for a corner. The ball passed very close to Frimpong's arm, leading Johnson to appeal for a corner, but it would have been unjust.

SUBSTITUTION

Graham receives a rousing round of applause as he leaves the pitch, with James McClean coming on in his place.

GREAT FROM GARDNER

Craig Gardner gains ground on the left wing and drives in a low cross. Graham gets a touch to flick it across the area where Steven Fletcher is just unable to apply the finishing touch.

YELLOW CARD

N'Diaye gets himself in the ref's notebook for his own wild lunge. The tackles are really flying in now.

YELLOW CARD

Steve Sidwell is shown a yellow card by Mark Halsey for a careless late tackle.

GOAL!!! SUNDERLAND

Mignolet's save seems to inspire Sunderland, who race down the other end through Adam Johnson, the winger's deft pass sending STEPHANE SESSEGNON scampering through to slot the ball past the stranded Schwarzer and into the bottom corner of the net.

BERBATOV ON THE VOLLEY

Bryan Ruiz flicks the ball up into the path of Berbatov, who tests Mignolet with a first-time volley.

GRAHAM OFFSIDE

Danny Graham is caught offside for the third time in the last ten minutes. The hosts desperately need to start threatening Fulham's goal, but they just can't make it that far at the moment.

SUBSTITUTION

Martin Jol deems it time to make his first change, withdrawing Karagounis in favour of on-loan Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong.

YELLOW CARD

The first booking of the match goes to Brede Hangeland for chopping down Sessegnon.

N'DIAYE THREATENING

Johnson intercepts Giorgios Karagounis' loose pass and instantly plays it forward to Alfred N'Diaye, who drives a shot narrowly wide from 20 yards. Moments later N'Diaye again goes close, this time with a header from Sebastian Larsson's cross.

POOR DEFENDING

The Sunderland defence parts like the red sea as Dimitar Berbatov strides through the centre. Fortunately for Martin O'Neill's side, the striker's normally silky skills desert him and a feeble cross is the result.

FINAL FAILURE

Much as it was at the end of the opening period, it's hard to tell who's on top here. Both sides continue to press forward, and if some of the final balls were of a higher quality we'd surely have seen more goals by now.

OVER FROM BERBATOV

Dimitar Berbatov tries to conjure something from nothing with a smart turn and shot under pressure from Bramble, the effort rising harmlessly into the stands.

STRAIGHT AT THE KEEPER

An intelligent pass from Adam Johnson sets up Fletcher on the edge of the box. The striker finds his path blocked by Brede Hangeland so plays a short ball right to Danny Graham, whose instant drive is too close to the grateful Schwarzer.

SECOND HALF

The teams are back out and the second half is underway, with neither manager having made any changes at the break.

FRANTIC FIRST HALF

It's been an entertaining 45 minutes of football here at the Stadium of Light; Fulham have been the better side and deserve their lead, but Sunderland hit back with a goal of their own and were looking stronger as the break approached. Dimitar Berbatov opened the scoring in the 15th minute with an ultra-calm penalty after Craig Gardner had scythed down Ashkan Dejagah inside the box, and Sascha Riether made it two after 34 minutes, burying the rebound after Simon Mignolet had parried Bryan Ruiz's shot. The Black Cats' reply came just a minute later when Phillipe Senderos tugged Danny Graham's shirt inside the area and Gardner passed the penalty into the bottom corner. Both sides came close to scoring again in the minutes before half time, and either could still win this. Let's see what happens in the second half.

HALF TIME SUNDERLAND 1 FULHAM 2

Mark Halsey signals half time and the teams troop off down the tunnel. The Sunderland fans, somewhat unjustly, boo the official from the field.

WRONG OPTION

Craig Gardner elects to shoot despite the penetrating run of Sessegnon, the midielder-cum-full back ending up with egg on his face as his shot flies a long way over.

SESSEGNON DENIED

Sessegnon's terrific run takes him past the sluggish O'Shea and past the 18-yard line where he unleashes a low left-footed drive that Schwarzer does brilliantly to parry away.

INTO ROW Z

As the ball is cleared from Sunderland's penalty area, Riise steadies himself for a trademark piledriver but can only steer his effort way over the crossbar.

SCRAPPY SPELL

As half time approaches the game is getting scrappier, with both sides showing great desire to impose themselves. There's more goals in this one.

GOAL!!! SUNDERLAND

As a high ball drops into the box, Phillipe Senderos gets the wrong side of Danny Graham and tugs the former Swansea striker's shirt. A penalty is instantly awarded, and Senderos is lucky to escape without a card. CRAIG GARDNER keeps a cool head to place the penalty right-footed into the bottom corner with great accuracy.

GOAL!!! FULHAM

That Berbatov header is collected by John Arne Riise on the left wing, the Norwegian steaming forward to supply Ruiz with a pass on the break. Ruiz makes his way into the area almost unopposed and unleashes a powerful effort that Simon Mignolet parries straight into the path of Sascha Riether, who makes no mistake with a simple finish.

BERBATOV BACK

Sunderland win a corner and unbelievably Dimitar Berbatov is the one to head it clear.

COTTAGERS SHINE

Fulham are looking really impressive now; you wouldn't think they were the away side. Sunderland need to regroup quickly or will surely fall further behind before long.

LONELY BERBATOV

Berbatov cuts a lonely figure at times up front on his own for Fulham. On this occasion the Bulgarian beats Titus Bramble with a lovely flick and sends in a low cross, only to find no teammate anywhere near the goal.

SOLO ARTISTRY

Seems it's a day for solo runs; this time Ashkan Dejagah shows Gardner a clean pair of heels to enter the penalty area and swipe a low shot across the face of goal and narrowly wide.

SO CLOSE FOR FLETCHER

A pair of one-twos from the lively Stephane Sessegnon allow the forward to reach the byline, where he tries to pull the ball back for Steven Fletcher, the cross flicking just over the prowling Scotsman's head.

TRICKY RUIZ

Bryan Ruiz's tricky run forward takes the Costa Rican past Larsson and N'Diaye, and he tries to play Dejagah through the middle. In the end the ball flicks off Jack Colback's heel and out for a throw-in.

GOAL!!! FULHAM

DIMITAR BERBATOV strolls up to the spot and calmly dinks the ball into the bottom-right corner. The picture of confidence.

PENALTY GIVEN

The Cottagers have a penalty after Craig Gardner swipes down Ashkan Dejagah inside the area. Sunderland's players angrily surround the ref, but he sticks to his decision.

POSSESSION PLAY

Fulham have seized control of possession for the first time in the match and are starting to knock the ball around with some confidence. The home fans are getting a little frustrated.

SUNDERLAND'S WIDTH

The Black Cats are getting some joy on the wings, with Fulham's defence slow to close them down out wide. The agile Mark Schwarzer has managed to get hold of every cross they've played in so far though.

QUICK REACTIONS

Johnson makes his way into some space on the left flank and plays in a dangerous ball for Danny Graham, but Mark Schwarzer reacts quickly to charge from his line and collect the ball ahead of his opponent.

IN A LULL

Following that blistering start the game has taken on a more sedate pace, with neither side pressing too far forward at present.

KICK OFF

The game is underway here at the Stadium of Light, and straight away Stephane Sessegnon wins a corner which Adam Johnson then directs onto the head of John O'Shea. The former Manchester United man's header flashes just past the post, but what a statement of intent from the hosts.

LINE-UPS ANNOUNCED

Martin O'Neill has kept faith with Danny Graham up front alongside Steven Fletcher in an unchanged Sunderland line-up, while Martin Jol has also made a total of zero changes to his team. Alex Kacaniklic yesterday joined Burney on loan until the end of the season and so is not included in the matchday squad.

FULHAM TEAM NEWS

Kieran Richardson and Kerim Frei are available after recovering from calf and pelvis problems respectively. Simon Davies could make his first appearance for almost a year after finally shaking off a long-term knee injury, but Mahamadou Diarra misses out with knee trouble of his own.

SUNDERLAND TEAM NEWS

Danny Rose and Lee Cattermole remain on the treatment table, while Danny Graham is likely to continue up front.

ONE TO WATCH

If they're to have any chance of winning this one Fulham will need the skills of Dimitar Berbatov. The languid Bulgarian has lit up a handful of matches this campaign while appearing anonymous in the rest, at times clearly disappointed with the quality of his teammates. He did grab the winner in Fulham's last outing against Stoke, however, and if he's on song today there will be little Sunderland's defence can do to stop him.

LOAN RANGER

Fulham's 21-year-old defender Matthew Briggs has joined Watford on a month's loan. The youngster has found first team opportunities hard to come by this season with John Arne Riise blocking his route to the left back spot, and has already had a spell on loan at Bristol City earlier in the campaign.

WHAT A TWIT

Sunderland and Republic of Ireland winger James McClean has been heavily criticised by following his latest Twitter faux pas. Democratic Unionist Party MP Gregory Campbell even suggested that the youngster should be fired by Sunderland for making such provocative statements; that seems unlikely as exasperated manager Martin O'Neill has publicly washed his hands of the whole thing, having forced McClean to close his Twitter account on two previous occasions.

REF WATCH

Mark Halsey is the man to preside over this afternoon's clash. The Hertfordshire official has erred on the side of leniency this season, having given out an average of just 2.46 cards per game, and will not have been sorry to hear that Sunderland's combative captain Lee Cattermole has been ruled out through injury.

SUNDERLAND V FULHAM

Having bounced back from rockier times earlier in the season, both Sunderland and Fulham are now heading towards their customary mid-table finishes, but with things tight in the bottom half of theBarclays Premier League table one poor run could lead to a relegation fight. If the 15th-placed Black Cats were to beat their 11th-placed opponents by two goals this afternoon they would even leapfrog the Cottagers in the table. Considering the habitually awfu l away form of Martin Jol's side, and the fact that Sunderland won 3-1 in the reverse fixture, that seems a distinct possibility. Martin O'Neill will certainly be anxious to break a sequence of three defeats on the trot so will be going all out for victory at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.