- Recorded twice as many league victories as Fulham (two to one), yet three places below them. Maximum points would see them leapfrogging the Cottagers.
- Pressing for a first win in five league outings and the avoidance of a fourth consecutive league loss; conceded three goals in each of the last two.
- In danger of tumbling to their worst run in the Premier League since suffering six losses on the trot between 15 February and 25 March 2006, 17 matches ago at this level.
- Picked up just two wins in 10 Premier League games under Roy Keane, one in the last nine, and gained one point from a last possible 12.
- Gained eight points out of 30; relegated on this pace in 2002-03, and in 2005-06 when they were three points behind the current tally at this same stage.
- Scored four goals in the last five minutes of Premier League matches this term; only Liverpool match that.
- The lowest ranked of five clubs still to draw a home Premier League fixture in this campaign.
- Won three of the last five home Premier League matches, spanning back to May 2006.
- Some tough away fixtures follow. Sandwiched between trips across the Pennines to Manchester City and Everton is the eagerly awaited home north-east derby against Newcastle.
- Kenwyne JONES is Sunderland's top scorer with three Premier League goals.
- Michael CHOPRA is a hat trick shy of 50 career league goals (Newcastle, Watford, Barnsley, Cardiff and Sunderland).
- Last season's top scorer David CONNOLLY needs one goal to total 100 in his league career (Watford, Wolves, Wimbledon, West Ham, Leicester, Wigan and Sunderland).
- Goalkeeper Craig GORDON is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Sunderland's Premier League matches this season.
- If selected:-
- GORDON will be keeping goal for a 150th time in English and Scottish league football (Hearts and Sunderland).
- Andrew COLE will be facing a former club. The 36 year old England international made 54 appearances (44 in the league) and scored 17 goals (15 league) in two spells for Fulham on loan from Arsenal from October 1989, and when signed on a free transfer for the 2004-05 season.
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LAST CORRESPONDING FIXTURE
Stadium of Light on 04-05-2006
|
|
Le Tallec 32
Brown 57
|
Radzinski 76 |
| Davis, Nosworthy, Breen, Caldwell, McCartney, Justin Hoyte (Kyle, 74 ), Whitehead, Miller, Welsh, Brown, Le Tallec (Murphy, 81)
Subs not used: Alnwick,Collins,Leadbitter, |
Crossley, Rosenior, Christanval, Pearce (Brown, 69 ), Bridge, Malbranque, Diop, Elliott, Boa Morte (Radzinski, 18 ), Helguson, McBride (John, 60)
Subs not used Warner,Volz, |
Yellow card:
Brown, Caldwell, McCartney, Whitehead
|
Yellow card:
Bridge, Christanval, Elliott, Pearce
|
Red card:
|
Red card:
|
Attendance:
28226 |
Referee:
M A Riley (W. Yorkshire) |
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|
- Pressing for a first win in nine League games, having picked up five points from a last possible 24.
- Gained one win in 11 Premier League games, two in 22 and only three in 27 in 2007
- Drawn five of the last six league outings. Indeed 50% of their fixtures this term have finished all square (five of 10).
- The highest placed of the four clubs with just one Premier League victory to date. The other three are all in the relegation zone.
- Only once had as few as eight points after the first 10 matches of a Premier League season; that was in 2004-05 when they went on to finish 13th.
- On the longest current run in the Premier League of 60 matches since a win by more than a single goal (6-1, home to West Brom on 11 February 2006).
- Own the joint strongest first half record in the Premier League this term with Manchester City (leading in five, drawn in four and losing in one at the break), but then lost more Premier League matches when leading than any other club (three), and squandered an unrivalled 13 points from winning positions.
- One of eight clubs still searching for a first away win in the Premier League. Not won a league game on the road since the 1-2 maximum against Newcastle at St James' Park on 9 September last year; their only triumph in 24 away. Gained 10 points from the last available 63 on the road, and chalked up a measly two victories in 42 league games away from the Cottage.
- Not scored more than one goal in any of the last 11 away league matches since a 3-3 draw at West Ham on 13 January 2007, and not claimed three points on the road since the 1-2 victory at Newcastle on 9 September 2006; their only maximum in 24 league away from Craven Cottage.
- Home to Reading after this, before two tough away fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester United, separated by a home meeting with Blackburn.
- Clint DEMPSEY and David HEALY are Fulham's joint top scorers with three goals each; only DEMPSEY'S are all Premier League goals.
- Fulham boast eight players to have figured in at least a part of every one of their Premier League games this season; that's more than any other club (Chris BAIRD, Carlos BOCANEGRA, Simon DAVIES, Steven DAVIS, DEMPSEY, HEALY, Diomansy KAMARA and Paul KONCHJESKY).
- If selected:-
- Dejan STEFANOVIC will be playing on the eve of his 33rd birthday.
- STEPANOVIC will also be making his 200th appearance for an English club (Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and Fulham).
- Suspended:- Paul KONCHESKY (three matches)
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| HEAD TO HEAD at SUNDERLAND |
|
SUNDERLAND |
Draw |
FULHAM |
| League |
10 |
7 |
4 |
| Premier |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| HEAD TO HEAD RESULTS |
|
SUNDERLAND |
Draw |
FULHAM |
| League |
18 |
11 |
13 |
| Premier |
1 |
1 |
4 |
|