Kenwyne Jones

By The Black Cats
January 31 2009

Kenwyne Jones celebrated his new contract with a vital goal to see off Fulham at the Stadium of Light. Jones scored in the 55th minute to break the deadlock, then let loose with his trademark somersault. It gave nervy Sunderland the confidence to go on and win the game. The Black Cats were poor in the first half and Fulham, who are now without an away win in nine games, should have been ahead of the break.

Ricky Sbragia's men came out stronger in the second half but it needed the goal from Jones, his eighth of the season, to take the shackles off Sunderland.

Djibril Cisse might have put the Wearsiders ahead in the seventh minute when he smashed a right-foot shot just wide and later in the first half he forced a good save from Mark Schwarzer.

Five minutes after Cisse's first chance, the Black Cats had a big penalty shout turned down when Steed Malbranque was caught by a Danny Murphy tackle.

Fulham, who passed the ball well in the opening period, were always dangerous and Simon Davies twice went close before the break.

Andrew Johnson had a goal-bound shot blocked by the impressive Danny Collins in the 28th minute as Sunderland dropped ever deeper.

The Jones-Cisse partnership finally clicked in the 36th minute when Schwarzer made a good save to deny the Trinidad & Tobago man before John Pantsil blocked Cisse's follow-up.

Jones put Sunderland ahead in the 55th minute by steering the ball past Schwarzer from close range after Cisse's shot had been stopped by the Aussie keeper.

Fulham were not finished and should have equalised in the 67th minute when Davies poked a shot over from close range after Clint Dempsey had knocked down Pantsil's cross.

A minute later, the action switched to the other end and Malbranque had a shot saved by former Middlesbrough man Schwarzer who played well for the London club.

Fulham went for it late on, ensuring a nerve-racking end for the home side who hung on to record a big win.