Starting Line Ups

Match Summary

The Whites managed to hang on for a valuable point at the Stadium of Light as a spirited ten-man Sunderland fight back almost gave the home side all three points. Simon Davies gave Fulham the lead in the first half with a well-taken free kick but Kenwyne Jones got pulled the home side level after the break.

Fulham had Antti Niemi to thank for a share of the spoils when he pulled off a point blank save after Daryl Murphy was through one-on-one late into second half injury time.

First Half Action

3 mins
Fulham started the encounter in patient fashion, maintaining good control of the ball and looking to play both Diomansy Kamara and David Healy in behind the Sunderland full backs. The Whites had their first attempt on goal in the 3rd minute when Clint Dempsey got his head to a Danny Murphy free kick, resulting in a routine save from Craig Gordon.

5 mins
However, the home side were not to be denied their opportunity to make their mark on the game as they forced a series of corners, which unsurprisingly saw Kenwyne Jones as the main target.

9 mins
David Healy came close to netting the opening goal for the Whites just before the ten minute mark when Diomansy Kamara pressured the back-tracking Danny Higginbotham into playing a ball across the face of his penalty area, leaving the rapidly advancing Gordon well out of position. The ball fell into the path of David Healy who, with the goal at his mercy, scuffed his left-footed effort wide of the far post from 18 yards.

11 mins
Fulham were next to create an opening when David Healy, having received a throw in the inside right channel, played a teasing delivery across the face of goal which was just beyond Kamara’s reach.

21 mins
Those who were anticipating a tight and scrappy affair were being proven incorrect in their assumptions as both sides were looking to play the ball on the ground and through midfield, making for a highly entertaining match.

28 mins
Moments before the half hour mark, Fulham threatened again when Simon Davies whipped a delivery to the back post which Dempsey headed narrowly over. The Whites were certainly upping the pressure and there were appeals to the referee when Clint Dempsey played Kamara through on goal with a well-weighted pass. The Senegalese striker looked to be clean through but went to ground just before meeting the ball.

32 mins - GOAL FULHAM – Simon Davies
The Whites eventually got their goal the pressure deserved with Simon Davies beat Gordon from 30 yards with a devilish free kick. With the players lining up for a shorter delivery, the quick thinking Davies surprised the home goalkeeper with a wonderful effort.

39 mins
Having taken the lead, the Whites were looking mindful of conceding an equaliser before the half time break. Yet instead of playing percentage football, Sanchez’ men were methodically looking to maintain possession and frustrate the home side, whose supporters were growing impatient.

45 mins
With just moments of first half injury time remaining the home side had their best chance of the half when Greg Halford found himself free in a good crossing position. Kenwyne Jones attempted the diving header at the far post but was just unable to make contact with the ball.

Second Half Action

48 mins
The home side, late on to the pitch for the restart, were certainly looking a more fired up unit following Roy Keane’s undoubtedly strong words at half time. Fulham’s back lined looked to be holding firm in the face of a concerted assault but were accumulating bookings as a result, with Simon Davies and Dejan Stefanovic picking up cautions in their defensive duties.

55 mins
Fulham’s lead looked to be under threat as the home side were starting to find Kenwyne Jones in dangerous areas. Antti Niemi was first called into action in the 55th minute when he got quickly down to his left to palm a goal bound header out for a corner via the shin of Carlos Bocanegra. An indicative factor in the Whites reasserting themselves in the match was the performance of Stefanovic in the centre of Fulham’s defence. The Serbian central defender was strong in the air against the threat of Jones and a reassuring presence.

65 mins
With the atmosphere inside the Stadium of Light heating up, Simon Davies momentarily eased the pressure as he led a counter attack upfield, however his final pass failed to pick out Healy.

67 mins – RED CARD – Greg Halford
The home side were dealt a major blow when Greg Halford was shown his second yellow card for a shirt pull on David Healy, who was looking to get on the end of a raking cross-field ball.

70 mins - FULHAM SUBSTITUTION – Healy OFF – Kuqi ON
Lawrie Sanchez opted to added a more physical presence to Fulham front line, replacing the hard working David Healy with Shefki Kuqi. The Finnish international’s brief was clear; act as a focal point should Fulham need a quick outlet further up the field. He certainly provided the Black Cats’ back line with a different proposition.

81 mins – FULHAM SUBSTITUTION – Kamara OFF – Seol ON
Diomansy Kamara earned the full wrath of the home support when, on 79 minutes, he went down with what appeared to be sever cramp in his calf. Kamara was briefly reintroduced to the action before being replaced by Seol Ki-Hyeon.

82 mins
As Fulham demonstrated against Derby County the previous week, going down to ten men at home sometimes does not appear such a disadvantage. Sunderland were illustrating the same point as they upped their work ethic and more than made up for their numerical disadvantage.

85 mins - GOAL SUNDERLAND – Jones
The home side managed to get back on level terms when Kenwyne Jones rose highest in a central area to head past Niemi.

90 mins
Sunderland were cranking up the pressure with a series of corners putting Fulham’s defensive resolve to the test.

90+4 mins
Antti Niemi pulled off a stunning save in injury time after Daryl Murphy managed to get past Omozusi at the back post. It was his second important stop of the match after an excellent save from Grant Leadbitter’s fierce shot. The final whistle blew shortly after.

fulhamfc.com Man of the Match 

Antti Niemi - The Finnish stopper ensured Fulham came away from the Stadium of Light with a share of the points, making vital saves as Sunderland rallied late on.

 

View Minute by Minute|