Sunderland go dey find how to hold tight dia spot for top four inside Premier League table as dem travel go Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon. This na di first time both teams go meet since February 2023, when Marco Silva men beat Sunderland 3-2 for FA Cup fifth-round replay.
Match Preview
Fulham end dia four-match losing run for Premier League with a sharp 3-0 win over bottom-placed Wolves for start of November, but dem no fit follow am with another win as Everton beat dem 2-0 for Goodison Park before international break.
Cottagers na one of four teams wey never win away match this season — di Everton loss na dem fifth away defeat and sixth overall for Premier League. Dem dey sit 15th for table, just one point above relegation zone.
Even though reports bin dey fly say Fulham board dey reason Marco Silva future because of poor form, wetin dey ground be say dem actually wan open new-contract talks with am. Silva — third longest-serving Premier League manager — go see him current deal expire end of the season.
Craven Cottage return go sweet dem because na there dem don collect 91% of dia Premier League points this season (10/11) — highest home-dependence ratio for di entire league. Dem also dey unbeaten in dia last 10 Premier League matches against newly-promoted teams (W5 D5), winning the last three straight.
But dem record against Sunderland for home no too sweet recently — Fulham don lose dia last two home Premier League matches vs Sunderland. Saturday match go be dia first Premier League meeting since Black Cats beat dem 4-1 for January 2014.
Sunderland meanwhile don gather 19 points from 11 matches (W5 D4 L2) — dia best Premier League start since 1999-00 (23 points), and best start by any newly-promoted team since Hull City for 2008-09 (20 points after 11 matches).
Dem extend dia unbeaten run to four before international break after summer signing Brian Brobbey score dramatic 94th-minute equaliser for a 2-2 draw with Arsenal — him first goal for di club.
Sunderland dey dangerous for second half — 71% of dia goals (10/14) come after halftime. Only Brighton (76%) get higher percentage. Fulham on the other hand don concede 69% of dia goals after halftime (11/16) — third-highest for league.
No many people for August go predict say Sunderland go dey fourth by late November, but Regis Le Bris boys deserve am. If dem win Fulham, dem fit even move level with second-placed Manchester City before City vs Newcastle later that day.
After beating Chelsea 2-1 for October, Sunderland now dey chase back-to-back Premier League away wins in London for the same season — something dem never do since March 2001. Dem also wan avoid losing two straight matches vs Fulham for first time since 2002-2006 stretch.
Fulham Premier League Form:
L L L L W L
Fulham Form (All Competitions):
L L L W W L
Sunderland Premier League Form:
W L W W D D
Team News
Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson still dey out with knee injury. Rodrigo Muniz don also join injured list after him hamstring tear vs Everton — he don do surgery.
Sasa Lukic dey suspended after collecting him fifth yellow card of the season, so Alex Iwobi fit drop deeper for midfield beside Sander Berge.
Josh King and Emile Smith Rowe fit battle for number 10 role behind Raul Jimenez — wey still dey find him first home goal this season. Harry Wilson go hope to keep him starting shirt after him hat-trick for Wales this week.
For Sunderland, Habib Diarra (groin) and Aji Alese (shoulder) still sideline. Dennis Cirkin (wrist), Romaine Mundle (hamstring) and Leo Hjelde (Achilles) still dey build fitness with academy — this match come too early for all of dem.
Coach Le Bris confirm say Reinildo Mandava dey “fine” despite leaving Mozambique duty with hamstring discomfort. Omar Alderete go still need assessment after missing three games because of concussion.
Captain Granit Xhaka go continue for midfield with Noah Sadiki. Simon Adingra and Chemsdine Talbi dey push to start ahead of Bertrand Traore and Enzo Le Fee for wings.
Fulham Possible Starting XI:
Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon; Iwobi, Berge; Wilson, King, Kevin; Jimenez
Sunderland Possible Starting XI:
Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Traore, Isidor, Le Fee
We Say: Fulham 0-1 Sunderland
Fulham dey strong for home this season, but attack no dey sharp enough and dem dey suffer late-game collapses. Sunderland defence don concede only five goals for away matches this season, and dem fit frustrate Fulham for Craven Cottage. We dey back Black Cats to continue dia surprising strong start with a slim 1-0 win.
