6 Patterson: Might be disappointed with the first, even though ball came through group of bodies.

6 Hume: Pinned back, particularly on, kept focus, got forward in second half.

7 Ballard: Brilliant early block. Didn't panic despite waves of early attacks.

7 Batth: Used his experience to keep his calm in frantic start. Mitrovic posed real challenge in second half.

6 Alese: Tough first half against Wilson but settled into game. Solid after the break.

6 Michut: Tough ask against a classy midfield, didn’t get disillusioned despite tough start.

6 Neil: Over-run in early stages but stuck at it and helped Sunderland get a grip of game.

7 Roberts: Looked lost early on but grew into the game. Finished the first half strongly and teed up Amad with Sunderland’s best chance of game.

7 Clarke: Full of running, brilliant finish for goal.

6 Ba: Played in unfamiliar central forward role, grew into game, linked up well with Amad.

7 Amad: As is so often the case, Sunderland’s best player. Quiet early on but his short on half hour mark sparked Sunderland into life. Movement and quick feet troubled Fulham. So close when shot cleared off the line.

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Substitutes:

6 Pritchard (for Roberts, 64): Bright from the bench

6 O’Nien (for Neil, 64): Boost for Sunderland to have him back

Bennette (for Amad, 71): N/A

Ekwah (for Michut, 71) N/A

Rigg (for Ba, 79): N/A

Subs not used: Bass, Kelly, Johnson, Watson

Fulham: Rodak 7; Tete 7 (Decordova-Reid, 64) Adarbioyo 7, Duffy 7, Kurzawa 7; Palhinha 7 (Reed, 64); CAIRNEY 8, Harris 6 (Pereira,46), Wilson 7, Solomon 7 (James, 80); Vinicius 7 (Mitrovic, 46, 8)

Subs: Leno, Robinson, Diop, Willian

Man of the Match: Tom Cairney. A cut-above in the middle of the park. Bossed it, especially in the first half