Sunderland 1 Fulham 0 (micro post)

Depressingly familiar story away from home. Kenwynne Jones scored the only goal just before the hour mark after Schwarzer had parried a shot from Djibril Cisse. We've changed from a team on a nine game unbeaten run to a team that's only won one game in nine. The transfer window clock is ticking down and there's a whiff of panic in the air. The squad certainly seems worryingly small and a few key players are struggling for form. We're not really doing a great deal differently though and if last season taught us anything it's that staying positive can lead to great rewards. A big game on Saturday either way.

Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney (McShane,70), Malbranque, Whitehead, Tainio (Leadbitter, 81), Reid (Edwards, 75), Cisse, Jones Subs not used: Colgan, Diouf, Chopra, Healy

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Davies (Gera, 76), Etuhu (Nevland, 83), Murphy, Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora Subs not used Zuberbuhler, Stoor, Andreasen, Kallio, Baird

Bookings: None

Att: 36, 539

Referee: M R Halsey (Lancashire)