Kelly drops to the bench for Fulham

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson fielded 10 of the men who booked a Europa League last-16 clash with Juventus in midweek as he looked to extend Sunderland’s Barclays Premier League misery.

In-form striker Bobby Zamora, who was a doubt with an Achilles injury, kept his place, with Hodgson making only one change, Nicky Shorey coming in for Republic of Ireland defender Stephen Kelly.

Black Cats counterpart Steve Bruce also kept faith with the bulk of the men who lost 2-0 at Arsenal last time out, with Lee Cattermole returning from suspension in place of full-back George McCartney.

Sunderland went into the game sitting precariously only two points above the drop zone after a run of 13 league outings without a win.

Sunderland: Gordon, Hutton, Turner, Mensah, Ferdinand, Campbell, Cana, Cattermole, Richardson, Jones, Bent.

Subs: Carson, Bardsley, McCartney, Zenden, Da Silva, Kilgallon, Mwaruwari.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Shorey, Duff, Etuhu, Murphy, Davies, Gera, Zamora.

Subs: Zuberbuhler, Kelly, Okaka, Riise, Smalling, Greening, Elm.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)