{"id":587737,"date":"2025-11-23T00:23:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T00:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/587737\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T00:23:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T00:23:23","slug":"fulham-1-0-sunderland-raul-jimenez-nets-late-to-pull-cottagers-away-from-relegation-zone-against-high-flying-black-cats-football-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/587737\/","title":{"rendered":"Fulham 1-0 Sunderland: Raul Jimenez nets late to pull Cottagers away from relegation zone against high-flying Black Cats | Football News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Raul Jimenez left it late to secure Fulham a much-needed 1-0 win against high-flying Sunderland in the pouring rain at Craven Cottage. <\/p>\n

Fulham dominated proceedings in search of their fourth win of the season, but as the game wore on, it seemed like they would rue a host of missed opportunities.<\/p>\n

But Samuel Chukwueze’s perfectly-weighted cross and a deft Jimenez finish spared Marco Silva’s side.<\/p>\n

Fulham faced a reality of being dragged into the relegation zone coming into the game, sitting just a point clear of the trap door, but victory means they climb to 14th.<\/p>\n

\n Player ratings\n <\/p>\n

Fulham: <\/b>Leno (6), Tete (7), Andersen (7), Bassey (7), Sessegnon (6), Berge (7), King (7), Iwobi (7), Wilson (7), Jimenez (8), Kevin (6).\n<\/p>\n

Subs: <\/b>Smith-Rowe (6), Chukwueze (7), Reed (n\/a), Castagne (n\/a)\n<\/p>\n

Sunderland: <\/b>Roefs (7), Hume (6), Mukiele (5), Ballard (4), Geertruida (5), Reinildo (4), Xhaka (6), Sadiki (6), Le Fee (5), Traor\u00e9 (5), Isidor (6).\n<\/p>\n

Subs: <\/b> Brobbey (6), Talbi (6), Mayenda (n\/a), Adingra (n\/a)\n<\/p>\n

Player of the Match: <\/b> Raul Jimenez <\/p>\n

Sunderland, who could have moved within four points of league leaders Arsenal, were well beaten, managing just one shot on target in either half.<\/p>\n

Regis Le Bris’ side drop to sixth but could end this round of fixtures as low as 10th with Manchester United, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur still to play.<\/p>\n

Now, without a win in three, Sunderland’s frustrations were evident after the full-time whistle, with a brief scuffle breaking out with staff members from both camps involved.<\/p>\n

How Fulham secured a much-needed win over Sunderland <\/p>\n

\"Fulham's<\/p>\n

Image:
\n Fulham’s Raul Jimenez shoots at goal<\/p>\n

It rained all match long at Craven Cottage. It was grey, wet and cold, but that didn’t stop a slick start from both sides.<\/p>\n

Very early on, though, it became clear that Fulham were the hungrier of the two sides as they took the impetus.<\/p>\n

Alex Iwobi’s wayward overhead-kick attempt was a sign of the confidence you would not associate with a side coming into the game just one point clear of the relegation zone.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, Fulham continued to press. Sunderland stopper Robin Roefs made four saves during the game including denying Kevin in a one-on-one scenario in the 23rd minute.<\/p>\n

Of Fulham’s attempts, only five were on target, but the story of the match was more rooted in the opportunities that missed the mark.<\/p>\n

Prior to the goal, it was Harry Wilson who came closest, dragging his effort from inside the area wide of the mark. Emile Smith Rowe also came close with a half-volley from distance which curled wide. Iwobi’s attempt from range was not as impressive but it further reflected Fulham’s desperation to take all three points.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, Silva will take great promise from the number of chances and shots his side managed to generate.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Le Bris, will now be feeling the tough nature of the top flight with his side now winless in three.<\/p>\n

‘Proper striker’ Jimenez to be key for Fulham revival <\/p>\n

\"Jimenez\"<\/p>\n

Image:
\n Jimenez can be key as Fulham restore their season after a difficult start, says William Bitibiri <\/p>\n

Analysis by William Bitibiri at Craven Cottage: <\/p>\n

“Raul Jimenez scored a ‘proper striker’s goal’ when he netted a much-needed and much-deserved winner for Fulham against Sunderland. ‘Killer instinct’ and an ‘example’ were other superlatives used by Marco Silva as he lauded his No 9 following the game.<\/p>\n

“Silva revealed Jimenez had only trained once since after returning from Mexico duty, where he was even a doubt after a hamstring injury scare while away. However, it was the striker’s determination that impressed Silva most and if Jimenez can continue to find his form, he could prove greatly important to a Fulham side who have struggled to find themselves this season.<\/p>\n

“The Cottagers have lacked a clinical edge and at times a creative force but with goals like the one Jimenez scored, he could turn that around. Fulham found a creative spark; their 24 shots in this game were more than double the number they’ve averaged across their previous 11 games in the Premier League this season.<\/p>\n

“Asked where that came from, Silva said it was his side being ‘objective’ that was the main difference. If they have found a formula to be objective, Jimenez may just be in store for a personal renaissance.”<\/p>\n

Silva: We controlled all the moments of the game – we deserved the win <\/p>\n

\"Marco<\/p>\n

Image:
\n Marco Silva heaped praise on his side’s dominant display<\/p>\n

Fulham boss Marco Silva: <\/p>\n

“Clearly, we deserved the three points. It was a good performance from us.<\/p>\n

“We scored a late goal but we should have scored much earlier in the game. Meaning, back in the right track after the last performance that was not a standard that should be away from home.<\/p>\n

“We knew that we should have responded in a different way this afternoon with our fans. We did that for us and for them, and we did it.<\/p>\n

“We did it, controlling almost all the moments of the game, creating enough chances, three or four clear chances in the first half to score in the game.<\/p>\n

“Apart from one moment in the first half, in a good combination on their right-hand side, we didn’t give nothing for them.”<\/p>\n

Le Bris: We faced a good ‘dominant’ team <\/p>\n

\"Regis<\/p>\n

Image:
\n Regis le Bris bemoaned his side’s involvement in a scuffle after the final whistle<\/p>\n

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris:<\/p>\n

“We faced a good team, as expected, because they were really good a few weeks ago against Arsenal, for example, so it was really clear that they have this offensive threat, this ability to create chances, to be dominant with the ball.<\/p>\n

“I think we managed just okay on this part during the first half. We are not proactive enough to change and shift the momentum, but we tried during half-time to change this part.<\/p>\n

“We had our opportunity, I think, just during the first part of the second half. I think we felt that it was possible to change something, but it wasn’t enough.”<\/p>\n

On post-match scuffle: <\/p>\n

“I told the player at the end, in the dressing room, I don’t like fighting at the end.<\/p>\n

“Because if you still have energy in your tank, it means that probably before you didn’t push another person.<\/p>\n

“So, I don’t know what happened before, but for me it’s not a positive situation.”<\/p>\n

Story of the match in stats…<\/strong> <\/p>\n

What’s coming up in the Premier League? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Raul Jimenez left it late to secure Fulham a much-needed 1-0 win against high-flying Sunderland in the pouring…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":587355,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4100],"tags":[94,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-587737","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115596166131130651","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/587737","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=587737"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/587737\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/587355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=587737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=587737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=587737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}