Phillips went close for the visitors More Premiership photos

Fulham edged Sunderland another step closer to relegation with victory at Loftus Road.

Louis Saha scored the winning goal for the Cottagers, but it was cruel luck on Sunderland who dominated for much of the game against a Fulham side playing their third game in six days.

Sunderland produced one of their best performances in recent months, but squandered a host of chances and were made to pay.

With time running out for them to launch a battle against relegation the Wearsiders started brightly, with Kevin Kilbane a constant danger on the left side.

But it was Fulham who had the first chance with Junichi Inamoto beating Michael Gray and crossing for Steed Malbranque, who should have scored from close range.

Thomas Sorensen came to Sunderland's rescue and Saha's follow-up was blocked by Jody Craddock.

Sunderland's frontline of Tore Andre Flo and Kevin Phillips were a constant menace to the Fulham defence.

Flo should have done better after being set free by Stephen Wright.

He chipped Maik Taylor but his shot was off target and Phillips was agonisingly close to getting the vital touch.

Key moments 10 mins: Malbranque is denied by a smart Sorensen save 15 mins: Flo spurns a one-on-one chance with the keeper 85 mins: Saha breaks the deadlock for Fulham

Inamoto was an influential figure for Fulhame until he was replaced, but the visitors were always quick to close down any advances by the Londoners.

Phillips created a good chance for himself from a Gavin McCann driven cross, but his goalward-bound shot was blocked by Sylvain Legwinski.

Flo could have scored in bizarre circumstances when Matt Piper's corner hit him on the behind and bounced goalwards before Taylor gathered.

Sunderland looked the far fresher of the two sides and they almost got their reward through an acrobatic effort from Craddock, but Taylor pushed the ball out and Melville beat Kilbane to the rebound.

A cross from Phillips was missed by Taylor and his strike partner Flo could not find the empty net before Kilbane's volley was headed off the line by Pierre Wome.

Sunderland could not break down the Fulham defence

Kilbane twice picked out Phillips, the striker flicking on the first for Flo, but the lanky forward again failed to beat Taylor and then Phillips himself was off target with the second.

The lively striker skimmed the bar with a volley before Flo missed a free header from a Michael Gray cross.

It was starting to look like it was not to be Sunderland's day.

And it proved to be that way when Andrejs Stolcers crossed and Saha headed home less than six minutes from time.

Sunderland kept going to the whistle, but they could not prevent a sixth Premiership defeat on the trot as Fulham virtually guaranteed their top-flight status.

Fulham: Taylor, Finnan, Melville, Djetou, Harley, Malbranque (Stolcers 71), Legwinski, Inamoto (Ouaddou 61), Wome, Sava (Hammond 74), Saha.
Subs Not Used: Herrera, Leacock.

Booked: Harley.

Sunderland: Sorensen, Wright, Craddock, El Karkouri, Gray (McCartney 84), Piper (Proctor 80), McAteer, McCann, Kilbane, Phillips, Flo.
Subs Not Used: Macho, Babb, Arca.

Booked: McCann, McAteer.

Attendance: 16,286

Referee: E Wolstenholme (Lancashire).