The jury remains very much out on the summer revolution overseen by Paolo Di Canio at Sunderland, as for the fifth successive season Fulham hit the ground running to quickly dampen spirits on Wearside.
A goal eight minutes into the second-half, headed home at the far post by Pajtim Kasami as the Swiss Under-21 international out-jumped his marker Valentin Roberge, one of five debutants for the hosts, to a Damien Duff corner, ensured a losing start for Di Canio as the Italian head coach embarks on his first full campaign in charge.
Fulham, for who Darren Bent, the former Sunderland forward, remained on the bench throughout, were solid if unspectacular in securing a fifth consecutive clean sheet at the outset of a Premier League season. The visitors were content to sit back and soak up the pressure, while attempting to catch their opponents on the counter-attack, a tactic that ultimately paid dividends in a game where there was very little to choose between the sides.
Martin Jol's team were thankful to debutant Marten Stekelenburg for a stunning first-half fingertip save to deny a long-distance effort from Sunderland full-back Ondrej Celustka, as the hosts carved out the majority of the few clear chances. It proved to be an eventful afternoon for the Dutch international goalkeeper, who failed to see-out the 90 minutes, being forced off towards the end with a shoulder injury after a collision with Jozy Altidore.
Sunderland showed evidence of Di Canio's influence with a more measured build-up throughout, often playing the ball out fro the back. However, without injured Scotland international Steven Fletcher, they lacked a cutting edge, one which could well come when Altidore, the former Hull City loan player, gets back up to speed with the Premier League.
The winning goal was notable for its simplicity as Kasami, making his first Premier League appearance for 11 months following a loan stint at Lucerne last season, applied a simple finish to Duff's far from threatening corner at the outset of the second period.
Sunderland enjoyed the majority of possession for the remainder of the game, but rarely looked like turning that into an equalising goal. Ji Dong-won, the substitute, headed wastefully wide late on from Adam Johnson's inviting cross as Fulham recorded a fifth consecutive game undefeated at the Stadium of Light to leave Di Canio with much to ponder.
No comments:
Post a Comment