Sunderland 1 Fulham 0: Wilson Isidor grabs late winner to get Black Cats’ season underway but Cottagers remain pointless

WILSON ISIDOR celebrated his new deal by getting Sunderland’s season up-and-running with the winner against Fulham. The Haiti striker, 26, came off the bench to score the only goal to leave new Cottagers boss Alvaro Arbeloa still pointless. Wilson Isidor notched a late winner Credit: Reuters The striker converted from close range Credit: PA In an early contender for one of the most dire games of the season, it took the introduction of supersubs Isidor and Habib Diarra to spark this one into life. Moments after being denied by the post, the hitman latched on to the Senegal star’s cross to rifle home and send the Stadium of Light wild. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! It left toothless Fulham licking their wounds, with fans and Arbeloa both hoping to get some attacking reinforcements in before Tuesday’s transfer deadline. But Sunderland definitely do not need another to backup Brian Brobbey with Isidor, who penned an extension until 2030 this week, on this form. With anticipation soaring following Friday’s Europa League draw, Wearside was rocking come kick off despite wallets being emptied with trips booked to Portugal, Poland, Italy and Belgium. Sunderland, of course, shocked everyone with their seventh place finish last term. It was the highest achieved by a promoted side since Wolves in 2019. But those remarkable exceeding of expectations could yet prove to be a poisoned chalice. And the pressure is on to see whether Regis Le Bris can stop his side, tasked with the extra workload, falling victim to second season syndrome. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Last week’s opening day defeat at Ipswich did little to silence the doubters but a home clash against Fulham, who won just four times away last season, appeared to be the perfect tonic to give their campaign lift-off. After all, it was fortress Stadium of Light that provided the backbone for Sunderland’s success back in the top-flight. But in front of majority owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, things soon went flat after Enzo Le Fee dragged an early strike wide. Fans, now expecting more than just survival, had grown impatient with the impotence of their attack by half hour. And when the Frenchman whacked another off target from distance the groans were deafening. Despite having less of the ball, it should have been Fulham, aiming to bounce back from Monday’s home loss to Chelsea, ahead come the break. Josh King latched on to Alex Iwobi’s through ball only to slice high and wide left-footed with only Robin Roefs to beat. The attacker got another sniff right on the whistle too, only this time Reinildo Mandava saved the day with a brilliant run and recovery challenge before he could strike. They were two huge let-offs, with another coming soon after half-time when Nordi Mukiele had to slide in to action to prevent Gonzalo Garcia from racing clear. Sunderland know all about the dangers of Fulham, who have proven to be somewhat of a bogey team. The Black Cats had not beaten them in their previous six attempts in the North East, and the Cottagers were the only team to do the double over them last term. And by the hour mark Le Bris was prepared to take no more chances as he finally rang the changes. Isidor and Diarra replaced Brobbey and Nilson Angulo and it proved to be a masterstroke. Granit Xhaka’s diagonal ball dropped over Le Fee’s shoulder down the left, the winger put it on a plate in the centre for Isidor, but his first time strike smashed back off the left hand post. Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa was left with his head in his hands Credit: PA Granit Xhaka played a key role in midfield Credit: Getty But he was not to be denied and he made no mistake at the second time of asking. Diarra, who limped back off with a hamstring problem shortly after, left Calvin Bassey for dead after being set clear on the right. And as the home end held their breath, he perfectly picked out his team-mate to slot home past the lunging Bernd Leno. With a difficult trip to Brentford up next before the visit of champions Arsenal, you could feel the relief all around Sunderland come the final whistle. Sunderland majority owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus had plenty to celebrate Credit: PA Isidor’s goal came after also hitting the post Credit: PA Fulham could not even muster much of a scare late on. In fact, another sub Romaine Mundle should have doubled the Black Cats’ advantage only to fire right at Leno. Delight for Sunderland, but worries will be mounting around the Cottage over their firepower having failed to even register a shot on target. Comment now