Sunderland 1-0 Fulham: Wilson Isidor decisive as Alvaro Arbeloa's wait for first league win goes on | OneFootball

Cottagers could not find their rhythm on Wearside

Sunderland claimed their first win of the season as they edged out Fulham 1-0 thanks to Wilson Isidor’s goal, just days after he signed a new contract with the Black Cats.

Brought off the bench midway through the second half, Isidor rattled the post when it was easier to score before converting a similar chance with 15 minutes left at the Stadium of Light.

The 26-year-old’s finish in the same week he committed to Sunderland until 2030 ensured the Wearsiders claimed their first win against the Cottagers in six matches, stretching back to December 2017.

Regis Le Bris’ side started their campaign last weekend with a last-gasp defeat at Ipswich, where former Sunderland winger Jack Clarke scored the winner, but they held on here to claim victory.

It was a drab contest for large spells, with Sunderland showing more energy although Fulham, who were beaten 3-2 by Chelsea in their curtain-raiser, saw Josh King spurn a couple of first-half chances.

Fulham conceded after just 31 seconds against the Blues but they were more cohesive at the back early on, even if Sunderland had the first opportunity.

Granit Xhaka’s cross-field pass was expertly cut back by Thomas Meunier into the path of Trai Hume, who could not connect with the ball as a decent chance in a cagey first quarter of an hour went begging.

While Sunderland pressed the action, they rarely looked like cutting through and it was Fulham who came closest to a first-half strike.

Josh King scored against Chelsea but could not repeat the feat against Sunderland

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Alex Iwobi’s ball over the top saw King ghost into the area, although the 19-year-old’s first touch took him away from goal and his left-foot finish from an acute angle sailed harmlessly over.

The teenager had another opening just before half-time but, as he tried to go through on goal, he was nudged off the ball by Nordi Mukiele, restored to Sunderland’s defence in place of Luke O’Nien.

Sunderland went up a gear after the break but their final ball was still wanting as Nilson Angulo’s cross was just too high for Brian Brobbey, who then headed off-target a short while later.

The home side were susceptible on the counter though, with Mukiele once again riding to the rescue as he forced Garcia wide then blocked the shot.

Cesar Palacios rifled over and Le Bris soon turned to his bench, bringing on Habib Diarra and Isidor, who should have broken the deadlock after 71 minutes.

Another perfectly-weighted ball forward from Xhaka saw Enzo Le Fee direct a first-time low cross to Isidor, but, with the goal gaping, the Haitian’s strike came back off the post.

Just a few minutes later, though, Isidor atoned as Sunderland took the lead after their two substitutes combined brilliantly.

Diarra latched on to a long ball down the right and his low cross saw Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno come haring out and make a desperate lunge but Isidor was on hand to get there first and fire into the net.

Substitute Romaine Mundle could have made sure of victory after finding space from Xhaka’s ball over the top, only to shoot straight at Leno.