Black Cats' luck is out

Sunderland's luck was out against Fulham as they had a goal disalllowed and hit the woodwork several times.

Richardson's free-kick is disallowed while he hits the posts three times with another effort

Sunderland's luck was out against Fulham at Craven Cottage as they had a goal disalllowed and hit the woodwork on several occasions. Kieran Richardson's 54th minute free-kick was disallowed after referee Keith Stroud adjudged Pascal Chimbonda to have caused interference in the Fulham wall. Djibril Cisse then hit the crossbar with a powerful shot after substitute David Healy had chested down. In the first half, Richardson hit another free-kick shortly before the break which amazingly hit both posts, then struck the woodwork again via Cottagers goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who eventually gratefully grabbed it. Richardson, Cisse and Michael Chopra also went close with other efforts for the Black Cats in the first period. But a point was just about what Fulham deserved as they made as many chances as their visitors and if Zoltan Gera could have aimed straight they might have earned a valuable win. Although Sunderland passed more sharply, Fulham never lacked for effort and made some of the better opportunities.

Gera chances

Sadly, most of them fell to the feet of Gera, who had already scored twice for them this season since his summer move from West Brom. However, in the ninth minute he steered a shot from 10 yards straight to Chimbonda - standing on the Sunderland line with goalkeeper Craig Gordon grounded. And seven minutes later he failed to connect altogether with Andrew Johnson's perfect low cross from even closer range. Later the Hungarian failed to beat Gordon with two close-range headers, before he was substituted 17 minutes from time. Chimbonda was in the right place again in the 37th minute when he heroically headed Jimmy Bullard's fierce, rising shot over his own crossbar. Earlier Schwarzer had to save sharply from Cisse and Richardson - but was left thanking his lucky stars courtesy of Richardson's woodwork woe. It certainly did not look like it was Richardson's day when he stepped up for another free-kick nine minutes after half-time, crashing it past Schwarzer only for Stroud to harshly rule the effort out for interference by Chimbonda. Television replays appeared to show the Sunderland player actually tugging the arm of team-mate, Dean Whitehead. Fulham had tried to crank up the pressure towards the half-time break and after their amazing escape the luckless Gera had another near-miss at the other end when his diving header was well saved by Gordon. Fulham had plenty of possession, thanks mainly to the energy and determination of captain Danny Murphy.

Well policed

However, strikers Bobby Zamora and Johnson - returning from suspension - were well policed by Anton Ferdinand and Danny Collins. Johnson had scored in each of his previous five appearances against Sunderland but rarely got a look-in this time. Frenchman Steed Malbranque wanted to make an impression against his former club but only earned a booking for an over-zealous challenge on John Pantsil - much to the joy of the home crowd, who jeered him all afternoon. Sunderland's start to the second half promised a breakthrough and Aaron Hughes had to head off Fulham's line when Schwarzer's weak punch fell at Richardson's feet for him to execute a neat lob. The Black Cats struck the woodwork again when Cisse's fierce shot was too much for Schwarzer but came back off the bar. Fulham were clinging on at times but still managed to raise some scares in the Sunderland penalty area, notably when Zamora and Bullard brought saves from Gordon. However, Sunderland substitute Andy Reid would have been clean through on the home goal in the closing stages as he chased a Malbranque pass - but for Cisse straying offside.

Fulham	Team Statistics	Sunderland
0	Goals	0
0	1st Half Goals	0
5	Shots on Target	4
6	Shots off Target	6
5	Blocked Shots	4
8	Corners	6
14	Fouls	9
1	Offsides	5
1	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
77.4	Passing Success	72.6
23	Tackles	16
82.6	Tackles Success	87.5
50.9	Possession	49.1
59.7	Territorial Advantage	40.3