Sunderland Vs Fulham — sunderland vs fulham: Raul Jimenez double earns Marco Silva's side valuable victory

The Sunderland vs Fulham clash finished 1-3 as Raul Jimenez scored twice and Alex Iwobi rounded off a swift counter to net a classy third, ending Fulham's three-game losing streak and lifting them into the Premier League top half.

Sunderland Vs Fulham match overview

Raul Jimenez scored twice to inflict Sunderland's second consecutive home defeat as Fulham ran out deserved 3-1 victors. Jimenez nodded Alex Iwobi's corner beyond Robin Roefs, completely unmarked, before then rolling in a calm penalty that was won by Calvin Bassey and awarded after a VAR review, seven minutes after the opener. Both scenarios were described as entirely avoidable.

Header and penalty sequence

Jiménez’s two goals came as a second‑half header and a penalty. The header came from an Alex Iwobi corner with Jimenez unmarked, and the penalty followed after Calvin Bassey won the spot kick and a VAR review awarded it; Jimenez rolled the penalty into the net. Those two strikes looked set to earn Fulham all three points.

Sunderland response and counter

A clumsy Ryan Sessegnon challenge gifted Enzo Le Fée a chance to convert from the spot, and he did so emphatically, briefly reducing the deficit. The reprieve lasted only a short while: the third goal arrived on the counter, engineered by the in‑form Harry Wilson and finished wonderfully by Alex Iwobi from a tight angle. It was only the third time in Iwobi's Premier League career that he has both scored and assisted in the same game.

Line-ups and player ratings

Sunderland: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Hume, Sadiki, Jocelin, Diarra, Le Fee, Angulo, Brobbey. Subs: Geertruida, Mundle, Isidor, Mayenda, Xhaka.

Fulham: Leno, Sessegnon, Bassey, Andersen, Tete, Berge, Iwobi, Kevin, Smith Rowe, Wilson, Jimenez. Subs: Bobb, Muniz, Cuenca (n/a), Cairney (n/a), Castagne (n/a).

Player of the Match: Raul Jimenez.

Manager comments and reaction

"A big win. We knew it was going to be another crucial game for us. It's very important because we came from some not good results. We wanted to bounce back.

"It's been difficult for all teams to play against Sunderland, it's no coincidence they were the only team unbeaten [at home] before they play Liverpool. They make life so difficult for the opposition side, with the extra player from the stands.

"We had to keep the aggression. In the second half we were clinical, we prepare for these moments. The game was more settled after that. We handled the pressure very well, the stadium is buzzing after they score and then we score the third goal in an incredible moment. Top finishing from Alex [Iwobi]. A big fight.

"We want to be in a different position. A big three points. "

Régis Le Bris reflected on his side's performance: "It’s a tough day. We couldn’t find the right way to express our quality. We got too sloppy to impose our ideas. It was a tight game but we weren’t good enough. We have to find solutions rather than searching for excuses. We have to show our character. " Le Bris also pointed to balance issues after naming an attacking starting XI.

Context and wider issues

Fulham ended a run of three straight defeats to rise to tenth, displacing Newcastle in the Premier League's top half, while Sunderland remain a comfortable twelfth and are described as surely already assured of their place in the top flight for next season. Fulham became only the second side to emerge as winners at the Stadium of Light since Sunderland were promoted to the Premier League; Régis Le Bris' side had been on a defiant 12‑game unbeaten run at the Stadium of Light until Liverpool visited a fortnight ago and have now succumbed to a second home loss in as many outings, punished for a series of uncharacteristic mistakes.

Raúl Jiménez, who will turn 35 in May, was described as still vital to his team. It is approaching six years since his career was placed in serious jeopardy by a skull fracture, and his two goals — a second‑half header and a penalty — were highlighted as evidence of his ongoing importance. The home side were left to rue clearcut chances missed by Romaine Mundle and Nilson Angulo.

Part of the defensive and midfield problem noted by his manager involved Le Bris's two January signings, Jocelin and Angulo, used as touchline‑hugging wingers that left gaps in central midfield. Angulo is an Ecuador international signed from Anderlecht. Jocelin arrived from Maccabi Netanya, where he had failed to make a single first‑team appearance and spent most of his two years on loan in Israel’s second tier.

Separate to the match, clubs issued statements condemning online racist abuse aimed at players. After a recent match against Crystal Palace, one club condemned racist abuse aimed at their Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare following the player's penalty miss and republished specific posts that included references to Arokodare as a monkey, saying: "Wolves are disgusted by numerous instances of racist abuse, from multiple perpetrators. There is no place for racism – in football, online, or anywhere in society. We condemn this abhorrent and unlawful behaviour in the strongest possible terms. Tolu has our full and unwavering support. No player should be subjected to such hatred simply for doing their job. We stand firmly alongside him, and alongside all footballers who are forced to endure this abuse from anonymous accounts acting with apparent impunity. " The club added that it has "reported the posts to the relevant platforms. " Arokodare later posted on X: "It’s still unbelievable to me that we’re playing in a time where people have so much freedom to communicate such racism without any consequences. "

Sunderland said they were working with authorities to identify those responsible for "vile online racist abuse" directed at Romaine Mundle, adding: "These individuals do not represent Sunderland AFC, our values, or our community - and they are not welcome on Wearside. " Kick It Out described an "appalling weekend" of abuse and posted on X: "Action must follow. Players cannot be expected to tolerate this behaviour, and nor should anyone else. "

Fulham's win closed a chapter on recent poor results and shifted the positions in the table; Sunderland must now address missed chances and the balance issues highlighted by their manager.

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Match score: Sunderland 1-3 Fulham.