Sunderland AFC beat ten-man Fulham FC 3-1 at Craven Cottage to end a run of five games without a win and secure their first away victory this season.

Fulham started the day knowing victory would move them above Arsenal FC in sixth and level on points with Everton FC in fifth, but they were up against it as soon as Brede Hangeland was dismissed following his challenge on Lee Cattermole after 30 minutes. The visitors made their numerical advantage count five minutes into the second half, when Steven Fletcher scored his sixth goal in ten Premier League games.

Mladen Petrić levelled for the home side just past the hour, but three minutes later Carlos Cuéllar headed in from a corner to register his first league effort since February 2010 and re-establish Sunderland's lead. With 20 minutes remaining, Stéphane Sessegnon then opened his account for the campaign to seal victory for Martin O'Neill's side.