Sunderland slumped to a humiliating 3-0 defeat against Fulham on Saturday afternoon at the SOL thanks to goals from Gael Kakuta and a Simon Davies brace. Much was made in the build up to the game of SAFC’s striker shortage and although this problem was evident our inability to defend is what cost us yet again as the lads were outthought and outfought.

Before the game the news we’d been dreading but expecting was confirmed by Steve Bruce that Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck were both out for the remainder of the season. Welbeck has in fact gone back to Man U and has potentially played his last game for Sunderland, if true cheers Danny.

We lined up as expected with Mignolet in goal behind a back four of Bardo, Turner, Onuoha and Elmo. In midfield Muntari, Cattermole, Colback and Henderson looked to supply Malbranque and Sessegnon.

We actually started quite well and had the most possession without threatening until Malbranque did well to evade a couple of tackles and force a chance though his left foot shot from outside the box was tame. Elmo almost scored on fifteen minutes when he rose highest to Bardo’s cross but the Egyptian glanced the ball wide.

With half an hour gone Malbranque had a great opportunity to put us ahead when he outpaced Senderos, yes you read that right, but he shot wide.

Fulham made us pay moments later when Kakuta linked up with Bobby Zamora to poke the ball past Mignolet after shrugging off Michael Turner’s half hearted challenge. We had an opportunity to equalise straight after when Cattermole won possession and surged into the box but the midfielder’s shot was saved easily by Mark Schwarzer. Just before half time Henderson fired wide.

After the break Fulham started better with Zamora causing us problems before Jordan Henderson did well to clear Danny Murphy’s near post cross. With half an hour to go Fulham sealed the points when they broke down Sunderland’s right hand side before Steve Sidwell crossed for Simon Davies to blast the ball into the bottom corner. With no forwards on the bench Bruce opted to withdraw the totally disinterested Sulley Muntari and put Anton Ferdinand on with Nedum Onuoha going up front.

Onuoha actually won a couple of flick ons as we reverted to lumping the ball forward but five minutes later Fulham notched their third with Davies tapping home a loose ball. A mass walkout followed the third goal and for those of us who stopped behind it didn’t get any better. Sunderland offered nothing going forward so Bruce threw on youngster Craig Lynch and Bolo Zenden but neither could get into the game as Fulham expertly saw the game out.

Strikers or no strikers what happened today was a disgrace as a side with an abysmal away record and prior to today’s game the worst attack in the Premiership away from home came to Sunderland and rolled us over 3-0. Wolves and West Ham must be rubbing their hands as they look to avoid relegation with us still to play. Thank God we beat Wigan last weekend otherwise we’d be in real trouble.

Steve Bruce was quoted this morning stating he wants eight players in the summer but on this showing we’ll need more than eight.

Final Score: Sunderland 0 Fulham 3

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