Sunderland needed a second-half comeback to secure a 3-1 win over Fulham in their fourth-round FA Cup replay at Craven Cottage this evening.

Steven Fletcher tried to get the Premier League side off to a strong start as he attempted to pick out Emanuele Giaccherini inside the opening 10 minutes, but Fulham were quick to clear the danger.

Marcus Bettinelli needed to make a string of early saves as the visitors continued to look the more likely, but the keeper denied Ricardo Alvarez and Jordi Gomez.

The hosts started to see more of the ball as the first half progressed, and they managed to take the lead against the run of play when Hugo Rodallega pounced on a loose ball in the box after Sunderland failed to clear a corner.

Jermain Defoe had a couple of half-chances shortly after the restart as Gus Poyet's side pushed for an equaliser, but the striker could not get his first shot away, before a deflection on his second left Bettinelli with a comfortable stop.

The Cottagers had a chance to double their lead from a corner shortly before the hour mark, but Alex Kacaniklic headed the ball just wide.

The sides were level moments later as Patrick van Aanholt's looping cross was deflected, catching out Bettinelli, who could only flap the ball into the back of his own net.

Giaccherini soon tried to put Sunderland in front, but he blasted the ball just wide before firing high with another effort a minute later.

The visitors continued to look more likely, and took the lead for the first time with 15 minutes to play when Alvarez hit the ball first time just inside the box, smashing it into the far corner.

Rodallega tried to get the hosts back on level terms, but he was denied his second of the night as Vito Mannone held his headed effort.

Any hopes of a late equaliser for the hosts were dashed in stoppage time when Danny Graham was tripped by Nikolay Bodurov, allowing Gomez to make sure of the win from the spot.

Sunderland will face giant-killers Bradford City of League One in the fifth round.