No changes for Sunderland

Caretaker boss Kevin Ball named an unchanged side as Sunderland attempted to stave off relegation from the Barclays Premiership against Fulham.

Jon Stead, who scored his first goal for the club in the draw at Everton last weekend, was again asked to lead the attack with the Black Cats looking for their first home league win of a dreadful campaign against a side without an away victory.

Sunderland have to win to stand any chance of avoiding the drop today.

Chris Coleman made five changes to the Fulham team which went down 3-1 at home to Portsmouth as Mark Crossley, Moritz Volz, Collins John, the injured Mark Pembridge and the suspended Michael Brown made way.

Antti Niemi and Papa Bouba Diop returned from lengthy lay-offs along with Liam Rosenior, Simon Elliott and Heidar Helguson.

Sunderland: Davis, Hoyte, Breen, Danny Collins, McCartney, Lawrence, Whitehead, Leadbitter, Delap, Brown, Stead. Subs: Carson, Nosworthy, Miller, Kyle, Daryl Murphy.

Fulham: Niemi, Rosenior, Knight, Pearce, Bridge, Malbranque, Diop, Elliott, Boa Morte, Helguson, McBride. Subs: Crossley, Volz, Radzinski, John, Christanval.

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire)