Fulham's hopes of surviving in the Premier League were dealt a huge blow by Sunderland after a 3-1 defeat in a six-pointer at Craven Cottage.

Goals by Danny Collins, Michael Chopra and Kenwyne Jones helped the Black Cats ease to victory in a game that Roy Hodgson's Lilywhites simply had to win following last week's 2-2 draw at relegated Derby.

Fulham had more of the ball in match that they dominated but failed to take control of.

Collins headed in Daryl Murphy's cross just before the break after the hosts failed to clear a corner, Dean Whitehead having seen a similar effort disallowed for a foul earlier in the match.

The goal was a hammer blow for the Cottagers, who bossed the first 45 minutes but only really went close through a free Brian McBride header sent straight at Craig Gordon on 13 minutes.

Fulham started the second half desperate to claw their way back into the match, and they should have levelled soon after the restart when Diomansy Kamara shot weakly at the Scotland keeper when put in by McBride's deflected shot.

But it was Sunderland who got the all-important next goal, a result of woeful defending by Aaron Hughes, who hesitated in dealing with a Jones flick-on to allow Chopra - who came on at half-time for the injured Carlos Edwards - a quickly-improvised chip over the stranded Kasey Keller.

With a win the only acceptable result for the home side, men were piled forward and attacking players Healy, Clint Dempsey and Hameur Bouazza brought on.

One of the changes brought dividends. Healy - an outcast for club but hero for Northern Ireland - curled home from the edge of the box on 74 minutes after good work from Davies.

But Fulham were only too happy to press the self-destruct button immediately afterwards when Brede Hangeland let Murphy slip past him and lay on a simple finish for Jones.

Fulham piled men forward in vain hope of salvaging something from the game. But McBride and Healy both missed good chances with headers and efforts at the far post, while Dempsey fired at Gordon when he robbed Andy Reid.

But Roy Keane's men continued to confound the doubters and held on for a win which puts them closer to Premier League survival at the first time of asking and edges Fulham to near-certain relegation after seven years in the top flight.

Reda Maher / Eurosport