Sunderland 1-0 Fulham: result and report

Report

Sunderland beat Fulham 1-0, and they deserved the win. Fulham had more of the ball, but Sunderland created the better chances and were the only side to put a shot on target.

The match stayed goalless until the 75th minute despite Sunderland's chances. Wilson Isidor then scored from Habib Diarra's assist, and Fulham could not find a reply in the time that remained.

The win could easily have been more comfortable, because Sunderland also hit the woodwork. They created four big chances and missed three of them. One goal was a modest return from that chance count.

Fulham: plenty of the ball, little threat

Fulham had 59% of possession and 65 dangerous attacks to Sunderland's 34. Even so, they did not force a single save. They managed three shots and 0.66 xG, while Sunderland produced 1.33 xG from seven shots, four of them on target.

Sunderland's average pressure was also more than double Fulham's. Fulham had more territory, but Sunderland's attacks carried more threat. Bernd Leno made three saves at the other end, which fits that picture.

The one counter-signal is that Fulham still created two big chances. Neither was taken, and neither forced Sunderland's goalkeeper into a save. That leaves Fulham with a missed opportunity rather than an unlucky defeat.

Sunderland's standout performer

Granit Xhaka was rated the best player on the pitch, with a score of 8.02, though he neither scored nor assisted. That rating suggests Sunderland's best work went beyond the goal itself, despite them seeing less of the ball.