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Safety is priority for Chopra
Fulham 1 Sunderland 3
HAD Cardiff City been successful in attempting to resign Michael Chopra in January, the £5m striker would have been in London for different reasons at the weekend.
Instead of appearing at Wembley in a showcase FA Cup semi-final, Chopra was smarting from Roy Keane's decision to drop him from the starting line-up at Craven Cottage.
But, despite his personal frustrations, the 24-year-old was on hand to grab the crucial second goal in Sunderland's convincing win over Championship-bound Fulham.
Was he jealous to have missed out on a Wembley date with Cardiff? Or will securing Premier League status with Sunderland more than make up for it? In Chopra's mind, there is no contest.
"From a personal point of view I'm just looking forward to next season," said Chopra. "I know Cardiff came in for me and there was interest.
"But there's no point in playing in an FA Cup final if you are also playing in the Championship. There's only one place to be week in, week out and that's the Premier League.
"Keeping Sunderland up would surpass playing in an FA Cup final this season, of course it would. You ask any player what league they want to play in and they would be lying if they didn't say the Premier League.
"That's why you get the top, foreign players coming here because it's the best league in the world to play in. I have a chance to do that and I'm determined not to give it up easily."
In terms of mathematics, Sunderland still have a job to do. The reality is, however, that the goals from Chopra and Kenwyne Jones, after Danny Collins' first half opener, at Fulham should be enough to keep top-flight football on Wearside.
Ten points separate the Black Cats from the bottom three with 15 points to play for. A fourth consecutive victory on Saturday against Manchester City at the Stadium of Light could be enough to eradicate any lingering doubts.
Recording a first away win of the campaign at Aston Villa on March 9 has proven to be a pivotal moment. A new level of confidence and belief has been unearthed within the squad and it is clear the players are all now comfortable in the top-flight surroundings.
Under Keane there has always been high intensity and determination in the way Sunderland play, they are now adding substance by way of arrogance when they take to the field.
At Fulham, Roy Hodgson's strugglers started the better but there was always a sense that when the visitors got hold of the ball and played they would cause problems.
From the moment Phil Bardsley ended a fine, free-flowing move down the left by drilling a rasping drive that rose just over the bar from 22 yards, Sunderland gradually took charge.
There was the occasional save for Craig Gordon to make; most notably a Brian McBride flick from Jimmy Bullard's centre that looked destined for the bottom corner.
But Sunderland were unlucky not to go in front when Collins was deemed to have tugged the shirt of Leon Andreasen before heading in Andy Reid's back post free-kick.
And the full-back also had another header fly narrowly wide from a corner, before Kasey Keller was powerless to prevent the first shot on target go beyond him on the stroke of half-time.
The dire Andreasen allowed Daryl Murphy to turn and centre, Collins coasted in between Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland to direct a downward header into the net.
Fulham could argue going behind was harsh, there could be no complaints emanating from the Cottagers at the result come full-time.
The introduction of Chopra reaped immediate rewards. Seven minutes after replacing Carlos Edwards, the former Newcastle forward conjured up a moment of brilliance to increase Sunderland's advantage.
A long ball forward was flicked on by Jones and, after turning around Hughes, Chopra somehow stuck his left leg out to instinctively lift over the onrushing Keller.
It was Chopra's fifth goal of the campaign - amounting to a repayment figure of £1m a goal on his summer transfer fee - and he has struggled to hold down a place under Keane, particularly up front. The former Newcastle marksman was annoyed at his omission, but feels he has let his feet do the talking.
"I have proven in the games I have played that I can score goals at this level, hopefully it will continue," said Chopra, who has scored two in his last three appearances. "I was disappointed to be left out of the team but I know that the only way to answer that decision is to score goals.
"A lot of people have probably under-estimated my goalscoring ability at this level. But the last two goals I have scored have been from the only chance I have had in each game.
"What people don't realise is that I have scored five goals this season. I'll play anywhere if it means I am in the team. The important thing is to be on the team sheet."
David Healy, Fulham's very own striker with a point to prove for his non-selection, brought his side back into the match with a terrific left-foot curler that found Gordon's top corner.
But the Londoners' hopes of a revival soon disappeared when Dean Whitehead, making another of his bursting runs, charged beyond Hangeland and squared to Jones.
The £6m striker looked to have taken a poor first touch, yet still managed to drill low into Keller's bottom right corner.
With 14 minutes remaining, Sunderland's first win at the Cottage in the top tier of English football since 1952 had been secured.
That year Fulham suffered the ignominy of relegation, the same outcome is on the horizon this time around. Sunderland, however, have no such worries.
2:02am Monday 7th April 2008
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