Black Cats save best ’till last

SUNDERLAND saved the best for last as they won a Barclays Premiership game on their own ground for the first time this season – at the final attempt.

After 28 top-flight matches dating back to December 15, 2002, goals from Anthony le Tallec and Chris Brown either side of half-time saw the Black Cats fend off another unwanted record.

No English side had ever gone a full season without winning a league game on their own pitch, and while the Wearsiders cannot avoid setting a new low points total with a final day trip to Aston Villa to come, the win at least gave the home fans among a crowd of 28,226 something to cheer.

Steed Malbranque had volleyed over and Heidar Helguson headed wide before the home side forced their way in front with 32 minutes gone.

Winger Andy Welsh was in the side after returning from a loan spell at Leicester, and it was his cross which was glanced past goalkeeper Mark Crossley at the near post by on-loan striker le Tallec.

Kevin Ball’s side were two up within 12 minutes of the restart when, after Simon Elliott, Philippe Christanval and Ian Pearce had all been booked, Brown netted his first Premiership goal.

Justin Hoyte had already miskicked in front of goal after full-back Nyron Nosworthy had marauded down the right, when the former Gillingham defender set off once again.

Nosworthy let fly from 25 yards with a shot which Crossley could not hold, and Brown followed up to slam the loose ball into the empty net.

The mood changed slightly with 14 minutes remaining when Radzinski blasted a left-foot shot past Kelvin Davis, and substitute Collins John might have levelled within two minutes, but he fired into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Davis needed two attempts to cling on to an 85th-minute Wayne Bridge shot with Malbranque closing in, but for once the Wearsiders hung on.

SUNDERLAND: Davis, Nosworthy, Breen, Caldwell, McCartney, Hoyte (Kyle 74), Whitehead, Miller, Welsh, Brown, Le Tallec (D Murphy 81).

FULHAM: Crossley, Rosenior, Christanval, Pearce (Brown 69), Bridge, Malbranque, Diop, Elliott, Boa Morte (Radzinski 18), Helguson, McBride (John 60).

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).