Sunderland got their Premier League season up-and-running with a slender home win over Fulham.
Wilson Isidor climbed off the bench to net the only goal of the game and seal all three points for Regis Le Bris’ side. As for the Cottagers, they failed to register a shot on target and are still without a point in the early stages of the new campaign. The first half was a largely forgettable affair in truth, with Fulham’s Josh King orchestrating a rare attack from either side as he ghosted into the penalty area before wastefully blasting over the bar.
For the hosts, they were restricted to just a couple of half-chances in the first 45 minutes with the best they could muster being a relatively tame Thomas Meunier attempt from the edge of the area which was food and drink for Fulham’s Bernd Leno.
Sunderland were the slightly busier team when it came to defending after the restart, with Nordi Mukiele putting in a well-timed block to keep out a Gonzalo GarcÃa shot.
Le Bris then introduced Isidor and Habib Diarra into the fray just after the hour mark and the two alterations made quick impacts, with the former striking the base of a post not long after being brought on. The two changes then successfully combined for the opener as Diarra raced clear and laid it on a plate for his teammate thanks to an inch-perfect pick-out that Isidor could not miss – his first goal at the Stadium of Light since September 2025.
Many would then have expected a Fulham onslaught but it never arrived. The Cottagers were feeble in attack on Wearside and even at this early stage there may already be questions about how Alvaro Arbeloa gets them motoring again.
Zero shots on target says it all and those supporters who made the mamoth trek up to the North-east will be praying they can finally get off the mark next weekend when Crystal Palace – another team who are pointless – visit Craven Cottage.
As for Sunderland, the Europa League is on the horizon for them and this win might not have been pretty but it was much-needed as they look towards a season of balancing domestic and European commitments.
