With Sunderland having lost their previous two league fixtures, confidence was low in general, with just one shot on target between the two sides in the first half.
Noah Sadiki saw a speculative strike easily saved by Bernd Leno five minutes from HT. But Sunderland did not have too many shots outside of that, and also saw Nordi Mukiele and Jocelin Ta Bi forced off with injury.
Kevin also had to come off for the same reason, having had Fulham’s best chance to score before HT, dragging his shot wide from an acute angle.
One of Sunderland’s substitutes, Romaine Mundle, missed a great opportunity to put his team ahead early in the second half, but he somehow curled wide from close range.
It would prove to be costly, as Raúl Jiménez scored a quickfire double either side of the hour mark.
The Mexican had seen each of his previous eight goals either headed or fired in from the spot, and he got one of each, heading home his first from an Alex Iwobi corner.
A first brace since January 2025 was beckoning for Jiménez, and just seven minutes later, he sent Robin Roefs the wrong way with a penalty, after Calvin Bassey’s shirt was pulled by Brian Brobbey in the box.
The dazed Black Cats tried their best to get back into the game, and after Nilson Angulo blazed over at close range, Daniel Ballard was brought down by Ryan Sessegnon for the second penalty of the afternoon.
Enzo Le Fée made no mistake as he lashed the ball beyond Leno’s reach.
But Fulham ensured victory with a deadly counterattack not long after losing their clean sheet, as Harry Wilson fed Iwobi who delicately chipped the ball over the onrushing Roefs.
Sunderland had no answer this time, and the result sees the Cottagers leapfrog the Wearsiders in the table.
Despite missing out on what would have been just a second away league shutout this term, Fulham will be delighted to record their first PL win in five on their travels (D1, L3).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Raúl Jiménez (Fulham)
