Sunderland Vs Fulham — sunderland vs fulham: Raul Jimenez double earns Fulham 3-1 victory

Fulham ended a three-game losing streak in the Premier League with a 3-1 win over Sunderland in a match that saw Raul Jimenez score twice and Alex Iwobi finish a quick counter. The result matters because it moved Fulham back into the top half while leaving Sunderland to contend with a wobble after recent home defeats.

Sunderland Vs Fulham at the Stadium of Light: result and context

Fulham ran out 3-1 winners at the Stadium of Light, becoming only the second visiting side to win there since Sunderland were promoted to the Premier League. The victory ended Fulham's run of three consecutive defeats and lifted them to tenth in the table, displacing Newcastle into the Premier League's top half. Sunderland dropped to a comfortable twelfth place but have now suffered a second home loss in as many outings after a 12-game unbeaten run at the Stadium of Light was ended when Liverpool visited a fortnight ago.

How Raul Jimenez scored: header then penalty

Raúl Jiménez scored twice for Fulham, first nodding Alex Iwobi's corner beyond Robin Roefs while completely unmarked, then converting a calm penalty seven minutes after his opener. The penalty was won by Calvin Bassey and was awarded after a VAR review. account adds that Jiménez's goals came as a second-half header and a penalty; the striker, who will turn 35 in May and whose career suffered a skull fracture almost six years ago, was named Player of the Match.

Enzo Le Fee spot-kick and Alex Iwobi counter sealed the win

A clumsy challenge by Ryan Sessegnon gifted Enzo Le Fee a penalty, which he converted emphatically to reduce the deficit and briefly offer Sunderland hope. That reprieve lasted only a short while: a breakaway engineered by in-form Harry Wilson led to Alex Iwobi's third, a deft chip from a tight angle that completed the move and was only the third time in Iwobi's Premier League career that he both scored and assisted in the same game.

Selection, missed chances and tactical notes under Régis Le Bris

Régis Le Bris's side had fielded a very attacking starting XI in an attempt to address a scoring drought from open play. The manager's January signings, Jocelin and Nilson Angulo, were used as touchline-hugging wingers. Angulo, an Ecuador international, was signed from Anderlecht; Jocelin, an Ivorian, 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. Sunderland have won only two of their past 11 league games, a run made worse by a series of uncharacteristic mistakes in this match and clearcut chances missed by Romaine Mundle and Nilson Angulo.

Player ratings, substitutes and a manager's verdict

The match ratings recorded Sunderland's starting XI as Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Hume, Sadiki, Jocelin, Diarra, Le Fee, Angulo, Brobbey. Sunderland's substitutes were Geertruida, Mundle, Isidor, Mayenda and Xhaka. Fulham's starting ratings were Leno, Sessegnon, Bassey, Andersen, Tete, Berge, Iwobi, Kevin, Smith Rowe, Wilson and Jimenez; their substitutes were Bobb, Muniz, Cuenca (n/a), Cairney (n/a) and Castagne (n/a).

Manager reaction reflected the importance of the win. "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, " the manager said. He added that it had been difficult to play at Sunderland, that his team had to keep the aggression, and praised Alex Iwobi's finishing, calling the victory "a big three points. "

Racist online abuse and club responses after the weekend

Off the field, clubs issued strong statements condemning online racist abuse aimed at players. One club condemned racist abuse directed at their Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare after a penalty miss in a match against Crystal Palace and republished specific abusive posts that included references to him as a monkey, saying there was no place for racism and that it had reported the posts to relevant platforms. Arokodare later posted: "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. " Campaign group Kick It Out summed up "an appalling weekend" of abuse and called for action, posting: "Action must follow. Players cannot be expected to tolerate this behaviour, and nor should anyone else. "

Match facts: final score Sunderland 1, Fulham 3; Raul Jimenez two goals and Player of the Match; Alex Iwobi goal and assist; Enzo Le Fee penalty for Sunderland; penalty for Fulham won by Calvin Bassey and awarded after VAR review.