A Marcus Bettinelli own goal, a Ricardo Alvarez strike and a late Jordi Gomez penalty saw Sunderland come from behind to beat Fulham at the Cottage in Tuesday’s FA Cup Fourth Round Replay.

The Whites led at the break when Hugo Rodallega turned home from close range after Cauley Woodrow had met Ross McCormack’s corner and seen his effort blocked.

But the Premier League visitors levelled just after the hour mark when Bettinelli dropped a deflected cross from Patrick van Aanholt over the line from just under his crossbar.

Alvarez then put the Black Cats in front when he took aim from 15 yards and thrashed a shot into the far corner. And Gomez made sure of the victory in the dying seconds of injury time when Nikolay Bodurov was adjudged to have fouled Danny Graham in the box. Gomez slotted home from the spot as the Whites were left to concentrate on league matters for the remainder of the season.

Fulham boss Kit Symons made three changes to the side which lost 2-1 at Blackburn Rovers at the weekend. Out went cup-tied defender Jazz Richards in place of Jack Grimmer, while Seko Fofana came in for the ill Scott Parker and and Alexander Kačaniklić replaced Lasse Vigen Christensen who dropped to the bench.

A strong Sunderland side started brightly and took the game to Fulham without creating any clear-cut opportunities. At the other end, a quick Fulham break in the ninth minute saw Kačaniklić burst into space. He appeared to be fouled by Santiago Vergini just outside the box but the referee waved play on.

A long-range effort in the 13th minute by Alvarez was comfortably held by Bettinelli who then scooped away a shot by Gomez moments later.

The Fulham goalkeeper then did brilliantly to tip a Steven Fletcher shot inches wide after Fofana had squandered possession. Fletcher had only been drafted into Sunderland’s starting XI moments before kick-off after Connor Wickham was injured in the warm-up.

Fletcher was involved in the game’s next key moment as he looked to race onto a throughball in the 22nd minute only for the onrushing Bettinelli to make a diving save at his feet.

Liam Bridcutt was booked in the 25th minute after catching Ross McCormack. The Scottish striker was wearing the Captain’s armband in place of Scott Parker.

Van Aanholt cut out a dangerous cross from Kostas Stafylidis two minutes later as Woodrow waited to pounce after superb work by Kačaniklić to win the ball in midfield. And from the resulting corner Fulham went in front. McCormack’s delivery was met by Woodrow whose close-range effort was blocked near the line but Rodallega was on hand to lash home the rebound via the underside of the woodwork.

McCormack thought he’d won his side a spot-kick in the 32nd minute when he jinked his way into the box and tumbled under a challenge from Alvarez only for referee Paul Tierney to issue a firm shake of the head.

Alvarez saw a shot on the angle turned away by Bettinelli in the 34th minute, while McCormack wasn’t far away with a 20-yard effort on 37 after another quick Fulham break. Woodrow was shown a yellow card for catching Bridcutt as the clock ticked into the 40th minute.

Fulham may have finished the half the stronger but it was Sunderland who came flying out of the traps at the start of the second period – just had they had the first. Van Aanholt had a good chance to level the scores but dragged his shot wide at the far post after an Alvarez effort had been deflected into his path.

Kačaniklić headed a McCormack corner wide at the far post in the 57th minute and Sunderland were level on the hour mark when Van Aanholt’s cross took a deflection and looped into the air with Bettinelli somehow dropping the ball over the line from just under the crossbar. Despite desperate attempts to scramble it away, the goal was given. It was harsh on Bettinelli who had made some fine saves during the game and in the season as a whole.

Bodurov was booked soon after for fouling Fletcher near the halfway line, before Emanuele Giaccherini saw a curling effort flash inches wide of the far post in the 65th minute.

Fofana went close in the 73rd minute with a left-footed drive after Woodrow’s cross had only been cleared as far as the midfielder on the edge of the box.

Bettinelli went some way to redeeming himself for his earlier error when he raced off his line in the 75th minute to save at Alvarez’s feet but the same Sunderland player found the net 60 seconds later when he cut inside and rifled an unstoppable left-footed effort into the far corner.

Alvarez went into the book in the 80th minute for failing to give the ball back to Fofana at a throw-in. An almighty melee then ensued and the match official consulted both assistant referees before booking Giaccherini and Fofana.

Fofana and Kačaniklić then made way for Christensen and Patrick Roberts in a double change for Fulham. McCormack was booked for catching Giaccherini with a minute of normal time remaining and the Black Cats were awarded a spot-kick when Bodurov tripped Danny Graham.

Shaun Hutchinson received a yellow card for protesting and Gomez stepped up to slot home the penalty and book Sunderland’s place in the next round.