Fulham 0 Sunderland 0

Another draw did little to lift the fears of becoming involved in a relegation battle this afternoon, even if Fulham had far more attempts on goal than their opponents, Sunderland.

Mark Hughes was able to call upon the services of Carlos Salcido again after the Mexican had recovered from an ankle injury but there was still no room in the starting eleven for Andrew Johnson.

The fare served up in the opening exchanges was pretty average to say the least although Dempsey did light up proceedings with a thirty yard volley that test Mignolet in the Sunderland goal.

The visitors had to cope with an early injury with Ferdinand limping off to be replaced with Al-Muhammadi.

Thankfully, after halftime, the game livened up a bit. Sunderland brought on Gyan to bolster their attack but it was Fulham that finally started to create chances.

The first saw Salcido deliver a teasing cross that just evaded Dempsey and the Sunderland keeper before Bardsley had to head clear form under his own bar after Etuhu had looped a header towards goal.

As the action switched form end to end, Andrew Johnson, on for a half time substitute in place of Kamara, forced a good save form the keeper before Sunderland broke only for Gyan to fail to find Bent in space.

But it was looking like one of those afternoons and although Fulham threatened, they couldn`t break through the Sunderland rearguard, so it`s off to Anfield next weekend for an encounter with our former governor, Roy Hodgson.

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