Premier League preview: Fulham v Sunderland

3 May 2012 20:14

Fulham and Sunderland will both be looking to consolidate top-half Premier League finishes when they meet at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Fulham, in ninth place on 49 points, hold a four-point advantage over 11th-placed Sunderland with two games remaining for both sides.

The London-based club have won four and drawn one of their last six outings and are buoyed by a strong record at home this season.

Craven Cottage has proved a tough challenge for visiting teams of late, with Fulham losing just two of their last 14 appearances at home and scoring 29 goals in the process.

American forward Clint Dempsey has firmly established himself as Fulham's key to success, netting 22 goals in all competitions.

Fulham have not lost a game in which Dempsey has scored since August last year.

Fulham manager Martin Jol is expected to return to the bench after missing his side's last two outings with a chest infection.

First-team coach Billy McKinlay was handed the reins as Fulham were trounced 4-0 by Everton at Goodison Park last weekend before bouncing back with a 1-0 defeat of Liverpool away on Tuesday.

The win was Fulham's first ever at Anfield and put them equal on points with the Reds, who remain in eighth with a superior goal difference.

Sunderland have won just one of their last 10 outings in all competitions but mathematically ensured Premier League survival last weekend with a 2-2 draw at home to Bolton.

They enjoyed a winning run following Martin O'Neill's appointment in December, accounting for Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, and are desperate to avoid undoing the Northern Irishman's hard work.

Nicklas Bendtner struck his eighth goal of the season against Bolton to join Stephane Sessegnon and Sebastian Larsson as Sunderland's leading scorers.

However the Danish forward is unlikely to be at Sunderland beyond this season, with his loan deal from Arsenal set to expire.

Sunderland hosted Fulham in a scoreless draw last time the teams met in November.

The last seven games between the two sides have produced a total of just five goals, with three of them coming in Fulham's 3-0 away win 12 months ago.