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Sunderland take the points at Craven Cottage
Fulham took another step towards relegation but Roy Keane and Sunderland can almost start looking towards next season in the Barclays Premier League after victory at Craven Cottage.
Keane's men secured their third win a row courtesy of a rare goal from Danny Collins and tidy finishes from Michael Chopra and Kenwyne Jones, taking them to 36 points with five games remaining.
David Healy gave the hosts brief hope when he found the top corner but Sunderland held on for the win that should be enough for survival in Keane's first season as a top-flight boss.
The Irishman is often in the headlines - he criticised his former club Manchester United on the eve of the game - but is now on the brink of completing his one task this season - survival.
There's only one Keano, Sunderland fans sang.
Fulham, however, look doomed and chairman Mohamed Fayed looked unimpressed wrapped up in his scarf in the directors box.
FOR Fulham, a drop through the Premier League exit door edged ever closer, while Sunderland can now look forward to another campaign in the top-flight.
If there was anyone left on Wearside fearing the Black Cats would still suffer relegation after back to back wins over Aston Villa and West Ham, a third at Craven Cottage should have erased such thoughts.
And while manager Roy Keane has outlined a desire to spend heavily on five top new players this summer, the existing members of the staff are growing in confidence by the week.
It may have taken until the end of March for Sunderland to play with a genuine belief they belong in the top-flight, but the signs are bright that there will be no such relegation trouble next time around.
Fulham were, it is worth pointing out, as poor as their woeful position at the wrong end of the table suggests. Sunderland, though, never really looked in an danger even after David Healy's 74th minute strike raised London hopes of a comeback.
After Danny Collins' opener, once Michael Chopra had instinctively volleyed Sunderland two goals to the good nine minutes after the break there was no looking back - even if Kenwyne Jones' third was required.
There are now ten points separating Keane's men from the relegation zone. And, although there are still five matches remaining, it is time to start planning for an August in the top tier of English football again.
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Roy Hodgson's men need to eclipse the unlikely survival campaigns of West Ham, West Brom or Portsmouth in previous seasons if they are to get out of this one.
They paraded their legends, such as George Cohen and Alan Mullery before the game but aside from Jimmy Bullard, it does not look like the current players will be joining them in the hall of fame.
Fulham's drive, as expected, came from Bullard. It was the midfielder who created the first chance, lofting a pass towards Brian McBride in the 12th minute. The Fulham skipper timed his run perfectly but his header lacked power and direction, and Craig Gordon was able to claim.
After that, there was little for Fulham fans to get excited about in the first half.
Sunderland had the ball in the net after 15 minutes when Andy Reid's free-kick found the head of Collins but Mark Halsey disallowed the strike for a foul.
Phil Bardsley then came close for the visitors with a fierce drive from the edge of the area which just cleared the crossbar.
The home fans grew restless with the long balls punted forward.
There was frustration on the pitch too as Sunderland threatened to break forward. Leon Andreasen stopped one attack with a cynical foul on Reid, earning a booking.
Collins drifted a header wide from the corner but was only a half chance, and Davies volleyed over for the hosts from 20 yards before the break.
Sunderland took the lead in the last minute of the first half when Collins headed home from Daryl Murphy's cross, a move which should have been cleared earlier by the hosts.
Rather than sitting back on their lead, Keane brought on Chopra when he replaced Carlos Edwards at half-time as Sunderland went with a 4-4-2 formation.
It was Fulham who had the first chance after the restart. McBride scuffed a cross to Diomansy Kamara and Gordon was down to spread himself and save with his feet.
The Scotland goalkeeper was at full stretch again when Murphy, his team-mate, diverted Davies cross towards his own goal.
Despite the pressure, Sunderland grabbed their second goal, in the 54th minute.
Jones headed on a long clearance and found Chopra beyond the Fulham defence. The substitute did not take a touch, lobbing Kasey Keller with his controlled volley.
It could have got worse for Fulham when Reid found Murphy with a free-kick at the far post but the Sunderland midfielder headed when he should have shot, with comical results.
Healy was brought on and he scored with 17 minutes remaining, finding the top corner from 25 yards out.
But hopes of a point were dashed when Dean Whitehead found Jones unmarked at the far post. The striker took an ugly touch but slammed his finish into the bottom corner.
Watch the match highlights from Monday, April 7
5:03pm Saturday 5th April 2008
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