Saturday December 11, 2010 Day 17 Finished Craven Cottage

  1. Sunderland hold Fulham to draw

    Sunderland hold Fulham to draw

    Sunderland moved into the top six after holding Fulham to their 10th Premier League draw of the season in a goalless stalemate at Craven Cot More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Fulham
    • Sunderland
    • 90+6 Fulham attack again but the whistle goes, a goalless draw, Fulham's 10th of the season. Frustratig.
    • 90+5 Hangeland lumps it forward, Eddie Johnson to Murphy but hacked away.
    • 90+4 Eddie Johnson on the left finfs Gera who crosses and there is Onuoha again to clear. My man of the match.
    • 90+4 Great turn by Murphy away from Cattermole but a poor pass. Sunderland clear, Zenden with a super touch, now Gyan, and Richardson on the edge of the box but a weak finish wide!
    • 90+3 Gera with a shot from range but blocked. Fulham appeal for a penalty as it clearly hit Mensah in the ribs, he is winded. Ow.
    • 90+2 Dempsey with a clever through ball for Andy Johnson but Mensah with a superb interception.
    • 90+1 FIVE minutes added time, enough for a goal. Enough.
    • 90' Davies comes forward, now Pantsil with a mazy dribble but he slips in the box, should have crossed.
    • 89' Zenden wins a corner. He's brightened things up. Henderson plays it in but Fulham clear.
    • 88' Zenden with a superb run and through ball and he plays Bent in, he's got to score but he puts it wide!! Flag is up. No, he was on, bad decision. He missed anyway.
    • 87' Zenden lives! He's up and laughing as he's taken off the pitch following the recovery, all a bit dramatic.
    • 86' Zenden has an oxygen mask on. He's moving though.
    • 85' A clearance from Panstil smacks poor Zenden full in the jaw and knocks him clean out! Gera races over to check the airways, good man, and Zenden is in the recovery position before the medics make it on. First aid badge to Gera.
    • 84' Al-Muhamadi puts a hand in the face of Dempsey but not seen by the ref.
    • 83' Zenden races forward and tries a shot from 30 yards and it whistles just wide! Schwarzer had it covered.
    • 82' Free-kick to Sunderland a long way out and Bardsley smacks it about 15 yards over. Woeful.
    • 81' A big delay as Gera takes but straight at Mignolet. Tame.
    • 80' Richardson booked for the foul. Big wall lined up, Gera to take...
    • 79' Gyan is hassled into an error by Baird and Dempsey. Fulham play it clear with a series of short passes. Fulham break, great play as Andy Johnson gets in behind on to Murphy's ball, he cuts it back FOR DEMPSEY but a super block by Al-Muhamadi! Gera then fouled on the edge of the box! Free-kick.
    • 78' Welbeck is okay and wriggles away to put in a low shot that Hughes blocks. Nice skill but he comes off anyway, Bruce having made the decision after he picked up that knock. Zenden on in his place, a more orthodox 4-4-2 now.
    • 77' Welbeck is hurt after an aerial tussle with Pantsil.
    • 76' Gera finds Dempsey on the edge of the box but his low curler is saved by Mignolet.
    • 75' Mensah a bit tight on A.Johnson, free kick and taken quickly but Onuoha holds off A.Johnson and it's a goal kick. Fulham then have a throw as the Johnsons combine. Pantsil with a nice turn and cross but off the back of Dempsey's head and away! Fulham having a right go now.
    • 74' Good cross from Gera but Eddie Johnson heads up in the air and into Mignolet's arms.
    • 73' Johnson to Johnson, now Baird, good cross, Dempsey flicks it on and hacked away by Mensah!
    • 72' FULHAM DOUBLE SUB: Eddie Johnson on for Etuhu, with Baird on for Salcido, who has been dodgy.
    • 71' Fulham break, Davies frees Dempsey who is in but what pace and what a challenge! Onuoha gets across to block for a corner. Madness all of a sudden. Davies with the corner AND DEMPSEY but weak, easy for Mignolet.
    • 70' Sunderland break after a heavy touch from Salcido on the edge of the box, three on one but a poor, awful ball from Bent wide of Gyan!
    • 69' TWICE OFF THE LINE! Super corner far post, headed back in by Hughes and Johnson and Gera denied by Mignolet and Cattermole!
    • 68' Nice disguised pass from Gera to free Johnson but a great slide tackle by Bardsley to intercept. Corner.
    • 67' Pantsil finds Gera but a disappointing shot blocked. Etuhu dives in on Cattermole but a foul only. Similar to the Bardsley tackle, seems that the ref wants to give everyone a chance. A stern word from Swarbrick.
    • 66' Gyan tries to dink it in for Bent but Hughes clears. Dempsey is foueld by Cattermole.
    • 65' Fulham should have had a chance from that throw, Davies hooking a cross in that Sunderland left initially and Dempsey failed to nod into the danger area. Sunderland get down the other end, a rare break as Henderson forces an error from Hangeland and RICHARDSON but he smacks it just over!
    • 64' Johnson chasing well again as Sunderland have a throw deep in their own half, which is then converted into a Fulham throw. Pantsil to take.
    • 63' Lucky escape for Sunderland! Dempsey has a crack which hits Onuoha on the arm, no penalty, it rebounds into Johnson's path but hits Mensah, goes back off Johnson and wide!
    • 62' Murphy brings the ball forward and plays an aimless one forward, poor from a usually smart passer.
    • 61' Gyan chases a long ball that Schwarzer gets to first. Gyan looking lively as Johnson is flagged offside.
    • 60' Gyan tries to get around Pantsil and Hughes, who runs it out for a goal kick.
    • 59' Etuhu got a bloody nose in that incident and returns to the pitch plugged up but still bleeding.
    • 58' Davies hooks it into the box, Dempsey's shot is blocked, crossed in again by Dempsey AND MIGNOLET NOWHERE AS ETUHU HEADS ON GOAL BUT OFF THE LINE BY BARDSLEY!
    • 57' Pantsil looks for Johnson and Onuoha hoofs out for a throw.
    • 56' Dempsey on the edge of the box to Johnson but Mensah follows him. Salcido with a cross and IT'S A SUPERB ONE THAT BEATS MIGNOLET WITH DEMPSEY DIVING IN BUT HE MISSES IT AND IT BOUNCES WIDE! A touch and it's in!
    • 55' Johnson lays it off for Davies who bombs down the right. Inside to Murphy, Dempsey now to Salcido. Murphy now to Gera, and Dempsey shoots but blocked. Gyan with a nice touch and ball forward to Welbeck but Pantsil intercepts.
    • 54' Hughes is cool at the back to head clear. Sunderland have some oomph after that change.
    • 53' SUNDERLAND SUB: Ambitious. Gyan on for Meyler.
    • 52' Mensah concedes a free kick as Gyan warms up. Murphy looks wide to Pantsil who crosses, Johnson lays it off to Dempsey who misses it! Bent breaks on the right but his low ball is hoofed out by Hughes.
    • 51' Hangeland with a header that Johnson knocks down to Gera, Fulham swarming forward but a poor pass from the Hungarian and Sunderland clear. They're on the break now as Salcido dives in but Hughes clears.
    • 50' Gera and Dempsey combine to play Johnson in but he is closed down and the low ball inside is cleared. Johnson closes Bardsley down, blocking his clearance.
    • 49' Johnson presses Mensah, rushing him into a clearance to touch. Dempsey on the edge of the box tries a lofted curler, lovely shot but Mignolet gets hold of it under the bar. Not enough pace on it, allowing the keeper to get back.
    • 48' Johnson shows the kind of spirit the fans like, chasing down Mensah, who holds him off to let the ball run for a goal kick. Johnson laying down a marker, he will press all the time.
    • 47' Gera almost releases Johnson, who is immediately playing off the shoulder of Mensah.
    • 46' Second half underway.
    • 46' FULHAM SUB: Johnson is indeed on for Kamara.
    • - Andy Johnson is out early to warm up for the Whites. Not sure who he is replacing, probably Kamara.
    • 45+1 Half-time, a dreary 45 minutes and it is goalless at the Cottage. Muted reaction from the fans.
    • 45+1 Al-Muhamadi with a hanging cross but Schwarzer gets hold of it with ease. Sunderland get the ball straight back though - it just does not stick to Kamara.
    • 45' One minute of added time being played.
    • 44' Wild clearance from Hangeland goes straight out. This has not been a good half of football.
    • 43' Henderson on the edge of the box cannot get the shot away. Kamara races away but has no support. Groans from the home fans as he is forced to go backwards.
    • 42' Welbeck rises two tackles but plays a poor ball wide. The referee sees no advantage so pulls it back, with Welbeck caught as he played it.
    • 41' Bent seems onside as he gets inside Pantsil but the flag goes up. Tight.
    • 40' That was Sunderland's first shot on target today, Fulham having had two.
    • 39' Salcido with a poor clearance, Sunderland break, Henderson on the right, he plays in a super low ball across Bent for Welbeck but Pantsil makes an excellent block!
    • 38' Bardsley exploits poor positioning from Pantsil, loads of space and a lovely hanging cross AND BENT BEATS HANGELAND but he heads it well wide! Great climb, early to beat the big man, but a poor header!
    • 37' Gera with a clever turn to find Dempsey, he drifts outside and tries one of his trademark lobs but he doesn't get nearly enough on it and Mignolet claims.
    • 36' Decent spell for Fulham now as Salcido crosses, Onuoha again in the right place to meet it ahead of Dempsey. Fulham are starting to play it about nicely as Kamara deep uses Gera to get Salcido on the ball again.
    • 35' Mistake from Bardsley lets Gera in but there is no-one there so he delays the cross and, by that point, all the visiting defenders are back. Salcido has it now and shoots from range but low and easy for Mignolet.
    • 34' Cattermole gets in down the right, great cross by him for Bent but Pantsil flies in with a bicycle kick clearance. Sunderland still have it though as Welbeck gets the ball off Henderson cutting inside, nice touch and a half-volley but well over. Hangeland put him off. Sunderland looking the more likely now.
    • 33' Great first touch from Dempsey, who finds Salcido. The Mexican plays it long.
    • 32' A bit of a panic from the hosts is over as Salcido hoofs upfield. Back with Mignolet.
    • 31' Desperate lunge from Salcido, missing a ball wide to Henderson from Welbeck, Hangeland clears for a corner. Taken short and Fulham are all at sea, Pantsil mis-kicking the clearance but Fulham surviving!
    • 30' Davies almost gets on to an ambitious ball from Murphy but just a bit too much on it for the Welshman.
    • 29' Mignolet comes out of his box to clear with Kamara running on. Dempsey gives away a free kick.
    • 28' Bent has barely had a touch today as the ball is moved too quickly towards the front with Fulham opting to defend fairly deep.
    • 27' Gera uses his arm to control on the edge of the Sunderland box and that Fulham attack is over.
    • 26' Kamara bursts down the left and with Davies free in the box Onuoha does well to get the interception in, Gera arriving late too. Throw.
    • 25' A cross in for Kamata is over his head and it skims off Mensah's hairdo and Fulham have a corner on the right. Shocking from Davies, doesn't even get into the box past the first man.
    • 24' Welbeck tries to play Bent in but Hughes intercepts, now Murphy and Meyler flies in but the Fulham skipper gets his toe on it and rides the challenge. Sunderland need to calm down.
    • 23' Sunderland have a goal kick as Bardsley and Davies wrestle for an aerial ball. Looked a corner to me.
    • 22' Al-Muhammadi gets forward and crosses, blocked but only to Henderson, he drills it in and Bent flicks it on but away from Welbeck. Now Bardsley with a studs-up lunge on Davies and he is lucky not to see a card for that.
    • 21' Kamara with a wardrobe change having decided his boots were not right for the surface.
    • 21' Henderson with a superb cross from the right that Bent flies in to meet but his flicked header is well wide of the far post.
    • 20' Kamara races on to a through ball from Murphy but Menah holds him off, showing good pace and a wise old head to draw a foul from the Senegal forward.
    • 19' A very soft award of foot-up against Gera. He was controlling a ball he had flicked on and Onuoha was close to him.
    • 18' Mensah is winning everything at the moment, strong in to get the ball away from Kamara before playing it quickly upfield. Bent is offside though.
    • 17' Hangeland and Pantsil combine to clear another long Sunderland ball. Fulham haven't been at their best so far but Sunderland's approach tends to bypass the midfield.
    • 16' Good play by Fulham, one-touch passing until a heavy touch from Dempsey on the edge of the box allows Mensah to slide in and clear.
    • 15' Fulham knocking it about a bit better now as the fans get excited but a dreadful flick from Kamara, heavy and high.
    • 14' The free-kick is sent long down the Fulham left but again fairly aimless.
    • 13' Bent with some neat skill but the flag is already up.
    • 12' Pantsil takes the throw himself, down the line and Sunderland clear.
    • 11' Bardsley is tripped by Davies and then kicks off with Pantsil, the nearest man to him. Pantsil calms him down and takes the throw.
    • 10' SUNDERLAND SUB: Al-Muhammadi is coming on for Anton Ferdinand. Bit of a reshuffle then, either he will play right-back and Onuoha at centre-half, or Richardson to drop to left back and Bardsley in centre half.
    • 9' Ferdinand is in trouble, his hamstring has gone after a clearance.
    • 8' Murphy with a punt upfield, headed clear by Mensah, Dempsey takes a the ball on his chest AND HE DIPS OVER A SUPERB VOLLEY THAT MIGNOLET FLIES ACROSS TO CLAIM FROM UNDER THE BAR! That was a brilliant show of technique from Dempsey.
    • 7' Ferdinand trips Gera and Fulham have a free kick, taken short and the wasted as Pantsil lumps it high in the air.
    • 6' The break could be on for Fulham on the left but Kamara cannot reach the through ball.
    • 5' A touch scrappy for a few minutes as Fulham struggle to get their passing together.
    • 4' Schwarzer comes to the edge of his area to claim a long ball aimed for Bent.
    • 3' Murphy swings it in from the left but Mignolet claims through a sea of bodies. A bit high from Murphy.
    • 2' Onuoha slides in strongly on Dempsey, but only a throw in the end. Onuoha half clears then Henderson fouls Gera, shoving him in the back as he tries to hook the ball away. Murphy to take.
    • 1' Tricky skills from Welbeck to rob and beat the challenge of Pantsil but he runs it out for a throw.
    • 1' The first half is underway.
    • 14:58 This is referee Neil Swarbrick's Premier League debut.
    • 14:55 FACT: 17 of the 32 games played by either Sunderland or Fulham in the Premier League this season have ended in a draw. Should this game end in a draw, Fulham would equal the record for most draws by a Premier League side after 17 games of the season (10).
    • 14:50 FACT: Fulham have won just one of their last six Premier League home matches and just one of their last 12 league matches; Sunderland have won just two of their last 26 Premier League away games but their last victory came away in west London against Chelsea.
    • 14:45 FACT: If Fulham score today it will be 400 goals in the Premier League for the Cottagers. Don't get your hopes up though - there have been just two goals scored in the last four Premier League matches between Fulham and Sunderland.
    • 14:40 SUNDERLAND TEAM NEWS: Striker Asamoah Gyan recovers from a toe injury but only makes the bench, same for keeper Craig Gordon (hamstring). Titus Bramble, Fraizer Campbell and Michael Turner are all out with knee injuries.
    • 14:35 FULHAM TEAM NEWS: With the aforementioned Zamora still out, Diomansy Kamara continues up front. Moussa Dembele is injured and does not make the bench, although Carlos Salcido starts. Dickson Etuhu lines up against his former club.
    • 14:30 Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
    • 14:30 TEAMS - Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey, Gera, Kamara; Subs: Stockdale, Kelly, Baird, Andrew Johnson, Duff, Eddie Johnson, Greening /// Sunderland: Mignolet, Onuoha, Mensah, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Meyler, Cattermole, Henderson, Richardson, Welbeck, Bent; Subs: Gordon, Zenden, Malbranque, Angeleri, Da Silva, Elmohamady, Gyan
    • 14:25 Sunderland, meanwhile, are seventh, on 23 points and behind sixth-placed West Brom on goal difference. Fulham are only above third-bottom Wigan on goal difference, with both on 15 points. That means just eight points separates Europe and relegation. Tight.
    • 14:20 Fulham cannot buy a win at the moment, despite playing reasonably well under Mark Hughes. There have been too many draws - nine from 16 matches - and not enough goals. In the absence of the injured Bobby Zamora they have only managed, on average, one goal a game.
    • 14:15 Welcome to our LIVE coverage of Fulham's Premier League clash with Sunderland at Craven Cottage, with text commentary and scoring from 3pm UK time.

  • Summary

    • 90+4 Great turn by Murphy away from Cattermole but a poor pass. Sunderland clear, Zenden with a super touch, now Gyan, and Richardson on the edge of the box but a weak finish wide!
    • 90+3 Gera with a shot from range but blocked. Fulham appeal for a penalty as it clearly hit Mensah in the ribs, he is winded. Ow.
    • 88' Zenden with a superb run and through ball and he plays Bent in, he's got to score but he puts it wide!! Flag is up. No, he was on, bad decision. He missed anyway.
    • 83' Zenden races forward and tries a shot from 30 yards and it whistles just wide! Schwarzer had it covered.
    • 79' Gyan is hassled into an error by Baird and Dempsey. Fulham play it clear with a series of short passes. Fulham break, great play as Andy Johnson gets in behind on to Murphy's ball, he cuts it back FOR DEMPSEY but a super block by Al-Muhamadi! Gera then fouled on the edge of the box! Free-kick.
    • 71' Fulham break, Davies frees Dempsey who is in but what pace and what a challenge! Onuoha gets across to block for a corner. Madness all of a sudden. Davies with the corner AND DEMPSEY but weak, easy for Mignolet.
    • 70' Sunderland break after a heavy touch from Salcido on the edge of the box, three on one but a poor, awful ball from Bent wide of Gyan!
    • 69' TWICE OFF THE LINE! Super corner far post, headed back in by Hughes and Johnson and Gera denied by Mignolet and Cattermole!
    • 65' Fulham should have had a chance from that throw, Davies hooking a cross in that Sunderland left initially and Dempsey failed to nod into the danger area. Sunderland get down the other end, a rare break as Henderson forces an error from Hangeland and RICHARDSON but he smacks it just over!
    • 63' Lucky escape for Sunderland! Dempsey has a crack which hits Onuoha on the arm, no penalty, it rebounds into Johnson's path but hits Mensah, goes back off Johnson and wide!
    • 58' Davies hooks it into the box, Dempsey's shot is blocked, crossed in again by Dempsey AND MIGNOLET NOWHERE AS ETUHU HEADS ON GOAL BUT OFF THE LINE BY BARDSLEY!
    • 56' Dempsey on the edge of the box to Johnson but Mensah follows him. Salcido with a cross and IT'S A SUPERB ONE THAT BEATS MIGNOLET WITH DEMPSEY DIVING IN BUT HE MISSES IT AND IT BOUNCES WIDE! A touch and it's in!
    • 49' Johnson presses Mensah, rushing him into a clearance to touch. Dempsey on the edge of the box tries a lofted curler, lovely shot but Mignolet gets hold of it under the bar. Not enough pace on it, allowing the keeper to get back.
    • 39' Salcido with a poor clearance, Sunderland break, Henderson on the right, he plays in a super low ball across Bent for Welbeck but Pantsil makes an excellent block!
    • 38' Bardsley exploits poor positioning from Pantsil, loads of space and a lovely hanging cross AND BENT BEATS HANGELAND but he heads it well wide! Great climb, early to beat the big man, but a poor header!
    • 34' Cattermole gets in down the right, great cross by him for Bent but Pantsil flies in with a bicycle kick clearance. Sunderland still have it though as Welbeck gets the ball off Henderson cutting inside, nice touch and a half-volley but well over. Hangeland put him off. Sunderland looking the more likely now.
    • 31' Desperate lunge from Salcido, missing a ball wide to Henderson from Welbeck, Hangeland clears for a corner. Taken short and Fulham are all at sea, Pantsil mis-kicking the clearance but Fulham surviving!
    • 8' Murphy with a punt upfield, headed clear by Mensah, Dempsey takes a the ball on his chest AND HE DIPS OVER A SUPERB VOLLEY THAT MIGNOLET FLIES ACROSS TO CLAIM FROM UNDER THE BAR! That was a brilliant show of technique from Dempsey.
    • 14:30 TEAMS - Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey, Gera, Kamara; Subs: Stockdale, Kelly, Baird, Andrew Johnson, Duff, Eddie Johnson, Greening /// Sunderland: Mignolet, Onuoha, Mensah, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Meyler, Cattermole, Henderson, Richardson, Welbeck, Bent; Subs: Gordon, Zenden, Malbranque, Angeleri, Da Silva, Elmohamady, Gyan

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

    • Starting line-up

      • M. Schwarzer
      • J. Pantsil
      • A. Hughes
      • B. Hangeland
      • C. Salcido Substitution Out (72′)
      • D. Murphy
      • D. Etuhu Substitution Out (72′)
      • S. Davies
      • C. Dempsey
      • Z. Gera
      • D. Kamará Substitution Out (45′)

      Subs

      • J. Greening
      • D. Duff
      • S. Kelly
      • C. Baird Substitution In72′
      • E. Johnson Substitution In72′
      • D. Stockdale
      • A. Johnson Substitution In45′

    • Starting line-up

      • S. Mignolet
      • N. Onuoha
      • J. Mensah
      • A. Ferdinand Substitution Out (10′)
      • P. Bardsley
      • J. Henderson
      • L. Cattermole
      • D. Meyler Substitution Out (53′)
      • K. Richardson Yellow Card
      • D. Welbeck Substitution Out (78′)
      • D. Bent

      Subs

      • S. Malbranque
      • C. Gordon
      • A. Gyan Substitution In53′
      • M. Angeleri
      • P. da Silva
      • B. Zenden Substitution In78′
      • A. Al-Muhamadi Substitution In10′

  • Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Substitution Out72′ - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      Substitution Out72′ - -
      - -
      - -
      Strikers
      - -
      Substitution Out45′ - -
      Subs
      Substitution In72′ - -
      Substitution In72′ - -
      Substitution In45′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      Substitution Out10′ - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      - -
      Substitution Out53′ - -
      Yellow Card - -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out78′ - -
      - -
      Subs
      Substitution In53′ - -
      Substitution In78′ - -
      Substitution In10′ - -

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