Sunderland recorded only their second league victory this season against 10-man Fulham after Brede Hangeland's red card at Craven Cottage.
This was an incredible (and vital) win for Martin O'Niell's side, who sat dangerously above the relegation zone with only goal difference keeping them out. Meanwhile Fulham looked to rise up to seventh, just behind Arsenal on goal difference.
The game was a dour stalemate for the first 30 mintues with Sunderland mainly keeping out Martin Jol's men. Despite Dimitar Berbatov and Steve Sidwell missing decent chances neither Mark Schwarzer or Simon Mingolet were seriously tested in the opening stages.
The match eventually sprang into life with the only talking point of the first half when Hangeland slid into Black Cats captain Lee Cattermole with two feet off the ground. Despite it being an arguably controlled challenge, without a moment of hesitation the referee instantly produced a red card.
Even with a man down, Fulham still looked the more dangerous team in the closing moments of a largely forgettable first period.
Following half time with the score at 0-0, the game kicked off with an enthralling 45 mintues to follow.
After Fulham came incredibly close to scoring themselves by hitting the crossbar, Sunderland provided a perfect counter attack with Adam Johnson setting up Steven Fletcher to score his sixth of the season; having now scored six out of their eight top flight goals .
Fulham deservedly levelled on 62 mintues when Mladen Petric fired the ball in past Mingolet from close range just seconds after coming off the bench.
However, any Fulham fans' hopes of Petric being an inspiration for a victory were quickly gone. Just minutes later, the visitors hit back with the Cottagers breifly down to nine men as Carlos Cuellar headed the ball in from a corner.
And then five mintues afterwards, Stephane Sessegnon scored in spectacular fashion with his first goal in 19 league games with an unstoppable shot from just outside the penalty area, coming off the post in the process.
To credit Fulham, even with 10-men and at 3-1 they refused to give up and had two really good chances, both of which Mingolet stopped well from close range to preserve his side's lead.
But in the end they were unable to break down Sunderland, who will hope this merited victory will kick start their season.
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