Source: Telegraph
Fulham 1 Sunderland 0: match report
Fulham moved into eighth place in the Premier League thanks to an early goal from Bobby Zamora that handed Sunderland their 100th defeat in the Premier League. [LNB]Sunderland arrived with a poor away record, taking joust four points on their previous travels. The lone win, at Bolton on the season's opening day, is their only victory in 17 away games and they soon found themselves trailing. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League tableTelegraph player raterPremier League actionPremier League fixturesSport on televisionWith the game just seven minutes old Damien Duff rolled the ball back to John Pantsil on the right and his cross dipped perfectly for Zamora to head his sixth goal of the season, the striker finding space between Phil Bardsley and Michael Turner. [LNB]Sunderland, who had Kenwyne Jones back after suspension, came under further pressure soon afterwards when Erik Nevland shot over and Clint Dempsey sent another attempt just wide of the right post. [LNB]The visitors, who rarely troubled Mark Schwarzer's goal in the first half, suffered further problems when Anton Ferdinand had to go off with an injury and he was replaced by Nyron Nosworthy after half an hour. [LNB]The best Sunderland could off was a desperate effort from Kieron Richardson, forced by injuries to play in an unorthodox left-back position. [LNB]Zamora could have added a second goal before the break when, from Jonathan Greening's left wing corner, the striker was unmarked at the near post but succeeded only in diverting the ball wide of the target. [LNB]Zamora was denied again in the 42nd minute when, from Paul Konchesky's cross the striker headed against the Sunderland crossbar before Marton Fulop, the Sunderland goalkeeper parried another attempt, from Nevland before the Norwegian sent the rebound over from close range. [LNB]Fulham started the second half in similar fashion with Dempsey, offering further signs of what England can expect at the World Cup finals when they meet the USA, curling an effort narrowly wide. [LNB]But Sunderland increased the pressure on Fulham and were unfortunate not to score. In the 56th minute Sunderland were gifted a chance when Paul Konchesky inadvertently sent a back pass straight into the path of Jones but the striker squandered the opportunity when he shot straight at the legs of Schwarzer. [LNB]And within two minutes, former Fulham winger Steed Malbranque delivered a cross to Darren Bent who volleyed just wide when he could have levelled. [LNB]
