On the day Comply Or Die won the 2008 Grand National, Sunderland complied with the rules of Premier League survival, defeating a doomed Fulham side with consummate ease and in the process all but guaranteeing their top flight status for another season.

Sunderland came into the game on the back of two successive wins knowing victory at Craven Cottage would further distant themselves from the relegation zone. Keane made one change from the side that defeated West Ham seven days earlier with Carlos Edwards replacing Michael Chopra on the right hand side of midfield.

Prior to kick-off we had the honour and privilege of seeing the great Niall Quinn walking down the Fulham Palace Road, no doubt looking for the nearest bookies and boozer. A top guy.

And so to the game, Fulham knew anything but a win would leave them with little hope of survival, so unsurprisingly they started the game brighter. Brian McBride wasted a golden chance on 13 minutes, heading straight at the grateful Craig Gordon when it was easier to score. Simon Davies followed up with a powerful effort but thankfully this too failed to hit the net, flying over the bar and into the Putney Stand.

As the game progressed Sunderland slowly started to impose themselves, with Danny Collins unfortunately seeing his headed goal disallowed for offside, despite TV replays claiming otherwise. However the popular left-back would not be deterred and headed Sunderland in front on the stroke of half time. Daryl Murphy turned Brede Hangeland on the edge of the box before planting the ball onto the head of Collins, who proved clinical from six yards out.

HT 1-0 up.

The second half began in the same fashion as the first, a clearly startled Fulham threw themselves at Sunderland from the off with McBride again in the thick of the action. His scuffed shot flew across the box only for the waiting Diomansy Kamara to waste the opportunity thanks to some intense pressure from a certain Mr Nosworthy.

And then a moment of magic. After replacing Edwards at HT Michael Chopra continued his new found form in front of goal, expertly lobbing Kasey Keller after Kenwyne Jones cleverly headed into his path. Party time at the Cottage? I think so.

But wait, a moment of pure Sunderland. Despite dominating the game and being in full control we gave Fulham an unnecessary lifeline, allowing David Healy the space and time to turn and superbly curl past Gordon and into the net. So with 15 minutes remaining the home side had a new found hope, which happened to last as long as a Geordie sentence.

Dean Whitehead forced himself past a static Fulham back-four before squaring for the waiting Jones to slot into an empty net from 15 yards to confirm victory and no doubt a place in the Premier League next season. So another impressive away following saw Sunderland record their second away win of the season and set them up nicely for a pop at the Mags in two weeks time (even though we play Man City next week.)

A special mention must go to ALS seller Matthew Woolston who won £1,200 after taking Comply or Die to win the Grand National at odds of 120/1 more than a month ago. Well done mate.

Final Score: Fulham 1-3 Sunderland

ALS Man of the Match: Danny Collins (Solid performance as ever and scored two perfectly good goals.)

James Henderson

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