Fulham 1 Sunderland 3

Last updated : 05 April 2008 By Footymad Previewer
Sunderland won 3-1 against Fulham at Craven Cottage to almost guarantee themselves Premier League football next season while seemingly condemning their hosts to the drop.

Danny Collins, Michael Chopra and Kenwyne Jones scored the goals that leave Roy Keane's side ten points from the bottom three with only five games left.

Fulham have only themselves to blame after some comical defending made David Healy's fine goal almost an irrelevance, with the gap of six points between themselves ands fourth-bottom Birmingham appearing a chasm, although they host Alex McLeish's men on May 3.

Fulham began with a sense of confidence that belied their perilous league position in a game that defender Brede Hangeland had admitted beforehand was 'as important as it gets'.

Yet the optimism within Craven Cottage nearly disappeared instantly as Fulham had a lucky escape when referee Mark Halsey decided that Danny Collins had fouled Paul Stalteri while heading Andy Reid's free-kick home.

It was a harsh decision and was met with incredulity by Collins and his team-mates, while Keane looked on in bemusement from the touchline.

The injustice seemed to spur them on as first Phil Bardsley and then Dean Whitehead fired wide when well-placed as the visitors began to take control.

And their more aggressive attitude was rewarded on the stroke of half-time as Fulham conceded the type of soft goal that has made their relegation an inevitability.

Daryl Murphy was the architect, firing in a fine ball from the right wing that Collins, who was left completely unmarked, headed home from six yards out, giving Kasey Keller no chance.

Sunderland doubled their lead on 54 minutes, again thanks to some truly woeful defending. Aaron Hughes was the culprit, allowing substitute Chopra to get on the wrong side of him as he went to cover Jones' flick-on, although the former Newcastle man showed fine composure to lob the ball over Keller for his 50th career league goal.

The game appeared over but sub Healy dragged Fulham back into it with a stunning strike, his 25-yard left-footer arcing perfectly into the top corner with unerring precision - but it was clear that was an all-too-rare moment of quality.

However, it took only two minutes for Fulham to shoot themselves in the foot once again as they conceded almost immediately after scoring for the second week in a row.

Dean Whitehead was the creator, escaping down the right before setting up Jones, who had an age to find the bottom corner to record his seventh league goal of the season.

The Fulham fans headed for the exits and it will take a minor miracle for the club to extend their seven-year stay in the top flight, while for Sunderland it is mission accomplished as they can look forward to another season in the Premier League.