By Jamie Lillywhite

Jones equalised late on and Sunderland came close to a winner

A late header from Kenwyne Jones gave 10-man Sunderland a point.

Simon Davies surprised the Black Cats with a speculative 30-yard free-kick to give Fulham a deserved first-half lead.

Sunderland, ineffective until the final stages, played the last quarter with 10 after Greg Halford pulled back David Healy and was handed a second yellow.

But Jones flicked in from six yards in the 86th minute and might have won it with another header, substitute Anthony Stokes also denied in a frantic finale.

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After an impressive display led to an unjust defeat at West Ham last week, Sunderland began full of intent but it was the visitors who quickly looked more purposeful going forward.

Clint Dempsey headed a Davies free-kick straight at Craig Gordon, while David Healy dragged wide with his left foot 20 yards out with the goal at his mercy following a poor clearance from Danny Higginbotham.

Healy then flashed one across goal that just eluded Diomansy Kamara, while Dempsey headed another excellent chance over as Davies sent in another pinpoint free-kick.

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When the former Spurs man had another set-piece opportunity he took the direct route, and with Gordon and his defenders expecting a ball into the congested area from the left of centre, he curled into the top left-hand corner with the keeper unable to scramble across.

It took until first-half stoppage time for the home side to create a genuine chance, the athletic Kenwyne Jones, under pressure from 18-year-old Elliot Omozusi making his full league debut for Fulham, just failing to reach a tantalising right-wing cross from Halford.

Roy Keane would have been sure to have had some choice words for his charges at the break, and Sunderland returned to the pitch several minutes after their opponents.

Ross Wallace curled in two teasing left-footed crosses to cause some uncertainty in the Fulham defence but there was little creativity from the Black Cats.

Indeed Fulham could have gone further ahead but Dempsey sent an overhead kick too high.

Halford, who had earlier left the field to have a head wound treated, left permanently when he cynically pulled Healy's shirt to deny the Irishman a clear chance.

But playing with 10 inspired Sunderland, the industrious Leadbitter ghosted in but his close range shot was too close to Niemi and blocked by the keeper with his legs.

It looked as though Fulham were set for their first away league win since September last year but Jones headed in Leadbitter's left-wing cross and it was Fulham who were hanging on in the closing moments, Niemi smothering Stokes as he tried to apply the icing on the cake.

"But I thought we showed great character and dominated the second half, particularly after going down to 10, and were unfortunate not to win.

"It shows the type of players we have and I thought our fans were different class too, they stayed behind them."

"You wouldn't believe they were the home team but we didn't defend a ball into the box and the big lad got on the end of it.

"We haven't killed teams with a second goal and it is another Achilles heel for us of conceding soft goals.

Sunderland: Gordon, Halford, Nosworthy, Higginbotham, Collins, Leadbitter, Etuhu (Stokes 61), Miller, Wallace (Harte 71), Jones, Chopra (Murphy 61).
Subs Not Used: Ward, Connolly.

Sent Off: Halford (67).

Booked: Halford.

Goals: Jones 86.

Fulham: Niemi, Omozusi, Hughes, Stefanovic, Bocanegra, Davies, Davis, Murphy, Dempsey, Kamara (Ki-Hyeon 82), Healy (Kuqi 69).
Subs Not Used: Warner, Smertin, Ashton.

Booked: Dempsey, Davies, Stefanovic, Bocanegra.

Goals: Davies 32.

Att: 39,392

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).