DESPITE a fantastic performance that highlighted the direction in which this exciting Sunderland side are heading and a draw that was the least the Black Cats deserved, the enduring emotion from Craven Cottage may well prove to be despair.

There was so much to like from Mowbray’s side against their Premier League hosts. They played fast, fearless, attacking football and had more than enough chances to book their spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first in eight years.

And yet the many positives are sadly overshadowed by the nightmare first half sight of star striker Ross Stewart being stretchered off injured. In the week that captain Corry Evans was ruled out for the rest of the season, this looked like another hammer blow for the Black Cats.

Of course, it’s still too early to know for sure and everyone associated with Sunderland will hope Stewart’s injury doesn’t turn out to be serious. But the early signs didn’t look good. The striker pulled up chasing a loose ball, immediately went down and looked in real discomfort as he was treated before being taken off.

Just a day off Joe Gelhardt was signed to provide support for Stewart, the Leeds loanee may now find himself thrust into a leading role. And Sunderland may yet have to dip back into the transfer market.  Perhaps an Ellis Simms return remains a possibility after all.

And yet Mowbray’s immediate thoughts will no doubt be with Stewart, who has been in blistering form since returning from his three-month lay-off.

It’s a shame that such an injury blow will take a shine off what was a superb Sunderland performance. Yes, this was a much-changed Fulham team, but it was still extremely strong. And Sunderland gave as good as they got in what was a thrilling cup tie. If the replay is anything like this game then make sure you watch it, Tom Cairney ensuring these teams will go again at the Stadium of Light after cancelling out Jack Clarke’s first half opener.

Sunderland had more than enough chances to win it, and yet could easily have lost it had it not been for the excellence of Anthony Patterson between the posts.

Mowbray was forced into making the one and only change to his starting XI, with injured captain Evans replaced by Edouard Michut.

New signing Pierre Ekwah was named on a very youthful bench, which included 15-year-old Chris Rigg, 16-year-old Thomas Watson, two 18-year-olds and two 19-year-olds. Twenty-two year-old Niall Huggins was the elder statesman among the substitutes.

Fulham’s bench was far stronger, packed with regular first team starters with Marco Silva having opted to make seven changes, leaving out top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, among others.

He must soon have wondered whether he’d made the right call, for within six minutes his side were behind. Fulham like to play easy on the eye football but Sunderland didn’t travel to the capital with the intention of admiring the Premier League hosts and letting them have it all their own way, as Isso Diop discovered early on.

The centre-half was far too casual in possession midway inside his own half and was punished, Clarke stealing the ball and keeping his cool, slotting it beyond Marek Rodak

The 6,000 away fans, boisterous enough before the goal, were buzzing. But delight turned to concern in the stands and devastation on the pitch when Stewart was stretchered off.

With Gelhardt cup-tied and Isaac Lihadji not in the squad, Mowbray was forced into a rethink, Abdoullah Ba introduced and goalscorer Clarke moved through the middle.

Despite the Stewart setback, Sunderland were good value for their half-time lead.

Fulham had their moments, as you’d expect, and shifted through the gears as the first half went on, but other than a vicious Andreas Pereira volley that was brilliantly blocked on the line by Dan Ballard, the home side were largely limited to hopeful efforts from distance and crosses. The visitors defended superbly – and retained a threat on the counter.

Just before the Pereira volley, Amad almost doubled Sunderland’s lead when he fired wide after good work from ex-Fulham man Patrick Roberts down the right. And the Manchester United loanee went close again on the stroke of half-time when his shot was blocked inside the box.

The second half started as the first had finished, with chances at both ends. Ba fired just wide for Sunderland after brilliant build-up from Roberts, before Wilson was denied by a fine Patterson save as he looked to find the top corner.

Sunderland had no intention of sitting back and trying to soak up the pressure. They came again, this time through Amad, jinking this way and that, forcing a save out of Rodak. Back came Fulham, through Wilson again, denied by Patterson again. It was a thrilling watch.

The home fans know exactly what Roberts is capable of and he set off on a brilliant solo run, inches away from finding the bottom corner.

And on the hour mark, Sunderland were made to pay for their missed chances, Fulham working the ball to captain Cairney inside the box, who steadied himself before lashing past Patterson.

After levelling, Fulham went for the jugular, Mitrovic introduced and Willian soon after, but the brilliant Patterson kept them out. And the home side couldn’t commit too many bodies, for Sunderland were such a threat on the break.

Substitute Chris Rigg was introduced for the final stages and had the ball in the net in stoppage time but was denied what would have been a sensational winner by the offside flag.

At the other end, with just seconds remaining, Willian and Mitrovic were denied by two outstanding saves from Patterson.