Fulham 1-0 Sunderland: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

The match at Craven Cottage started cautiously, with both sides probing but Sunderland showing early threat through their dribbling prowess, though no goals came in the first half despite a yellow card to Daniel Ballard at 32'. Fulham held more possession but struggled to break down Sunderland's defensive setup, with substitutions at 64' seeing E. Smith Rowe and S. Chukwueze come on for J. King and Kevin respectively, injecting fresh energy into the home side's attack. The game remained tight until late, with yellow cards accumulating as tensions rose.

The breakthrough arrived at 84' when Raúl Jimenez scored for Fulham, assisted by substitute S. Chukwueze, shifting the momentum decisively in the hosts' favour. Late substitutions followed, with A. Iwobi off for H. Reed at 89' and H. Wilson replaced by T. Castagne at 90+4', while Sunderland brought on S. Adingra and E. Mayenda at 90'. The closing minutes saw a flurry of yellow cards for Fulham's Raúl Jiménez at 90+5', Harry Wilson at 90+4', and Bernd Leno at 90+3', but they held on for a hard-fought victory.

Fulham edged possession with 57% compared to Sunderland's 43%, allowing them to control the tempo and create more corner opportunities at 7 to 4, which ultimately contributed to their late winner despite Sunderland's impressive 50 successful dribbles dwarfing Fulham's 14. Both teams picked up 3 yellow cards each, with no reds or yellow-reds, reflecting a competitive but fair encounter, while Fulham's single assist underlined their efficiency in converting chances, and neither side scored from penalties or in injury time. Substitutions were evenly used at 4 apiece, with Fulham's changes at 64' proving pivotal as S. Chukwueze came on for Kevin and provided the assist, whereas Sunderland's double switch at 64' – C. Talbi on for B. Traore and B. Brobbey for W. Isidor – failed to turn the tide.

These stats highlight Sunderland's individual flair in dribbles but Fulham's superior organisation, which paid off in securing the points without relying on injury-time drama or spot-kicks.

The game's defining moment came at 84' when Raúl Jimenez found the net for Fulham, assisted by S. Chukwueze who had entered as a substitute just 20 minutes earlier, breaking the deadlock in a match that had been heading for a stalemate. Earlier, Sunderland's Daniel Ballard received a yellow card at 32', disrupting their rhythm, while their own double substitution at 64' aimed to bolster the attack but couldn't prevent the late concession. The final stages were marked by disciplinary issues, with yellow cards to Reinildo Mandava at 79' and Trai Hume at 88' for Sunderland, and a trio for Fulham in added time, but no red cards altered the flow.

Fulham's tactical adjustments, particularly bringing on S. Chukwueze for Kevin at 64', proved the turning point, enabling the assist that sealed the win, while Sunderland's late changes at 90' came too late to influence the outcome.

Fulham lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with a solid defensive base allowing the attacking midfielders to push forward, and partnerships like that between Raúl Jimenez up front and the wide players proving effective late on. Standout roles included the goalkeeper Bernd Leno marshalling the backline, while midfielders such as Harrison Reed, who came on as a substitute, helped maintain control.

Sunderland deployed a defensive 5-4-1 shape, focusing on compactness to frustrate Fulham's attacks, with key partnerships in the back five providing resilience and wing-backs like Trai Hume contributing to counter-attacks. Daniel Ballard's presence in defence was notable despite his early booking, and forwards like Eliezer Mayenda, who entered late, aimed to exploit spaces on the break.

The Man of the Match goes to S. Chukwueze of Fulham, whose introduction as a substitute at 64' transformed the game, providing the crucial assist for Raúl Jimenez's 84' winner with his fresh legs and precise delivery, standing out in a tightly contested affair.

Recent Premier League matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs Sunderland (H)
• Loss: 0-2 vs Everton (A)
• Win: 3-0 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Newcastle United (A)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Arsenal (H)

Recent Premier League matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Fulham (A)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Arsenal (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Everton (H)
• Win: 2-1 vs Chelsea (A)
• Win: 2-0 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

Sitting 15th with 14 points, Fulham will look to build on this gritty home win against Sunderland as they face a tougher test away at Tottenham Hotspur, who are eighth with 18 points, in a late kick-off on 29 November; a positive result could ignite their climb up the table after mixed recent form.

Sunderland, holding sixth place with 19 points, must shake off this narrow away defeat to Fulham and refocus for their home clash against AFC Bournemouth, seventh with the same points tally, on 29 November in the early afternoon; maintaining their unbeaten streak from recent draws will be key to staying in the European mix.

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