Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson couldn't believe his extraordinary strike which hit Fulham's frame three times before bouncing out to safety.

Richardson's first free-kick bounced from right post to left, to Mark Schwarzer's knee, and to the right post again before being gathered by the bamboozled keeper.

His second, a glorious strike, found the net but was ruled out when referee Keith Stroud penalised Pascal Chimbonda for pushing in the wall.

"I felt like the unluckiest person on the pitch," said Richardson. "I wasn't watching the first free-kick, I was celebrating because I was certain I had scored.

'For the second, the TV replay showed there was no reason for the referee to blow his whistle.

"I was off celebrating again."

Then, as Richardson was giving a post-match interview, Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard tried to wind him up by saying: "Chin up!"

Richardson responded: "My chin isn't going down. We have a huge game against Newcastle coming up and we have to focus on that now."