Jones claims Black Cats winner

The Trinidad and Tobago international, who put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year deal earlier on Tuesday, scored the game's only goal after 55 minutes to ease his side further clear of the drop zone.

Ricky Sbragia's men might have won more comfortably had it not been for goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who made a string of fine saves as his side's run of four successive 0-0 away draws in the league came to an end.

Sunderland, with Djibril Cisse and Jones leading the line, created a handful of half-chances but could not make any of them count.

That was in part due to Schwarzer, who made a decent 28th-minute save from Cisse and a much better one from Jones eight minutes later with Aaron Hughes blocking the Frenchman's follow-up. But Marton Fulop was even more under-employed with the Hungarian not having to make a single save of any note in the first half.

Schwarzer came to his side's rescue once again but this time the helping hand he needed was nowhere to be found.

Schwarzer managed to parry Cisse's snapshot but neither he nor any of his defenders could get to the rebound before Jones, who side-footed home from close range.

The sense of relief was palpable and there would have been a much more relaxed atmosphere had Schwarzer not smothered Steed Malbranque's swerving drive.

But Fulham's big chance arrived five minutes later when Clinton Dempsey headed down John Pantsil's deep cross at the far post only for Simon Davies to lift his shot high over.

Malbranque could have killed the game off seconds later had Schwarzer not pulled off a fine reaction save before Pantsil found himself in an advanced position with 10 minutes to go but he lashed his shot wildly off target.