A DELIGHTED Kevin Ball last night hailed his under-fire side and the club's supporters after a first Premier League victory at the Stadium of Light this season.

But the triumph also signalled an end to some other woeful unwanted records.

The Black Cats had never beaten Fulham in the Premiership and had not enjoyed a home league victory over them in 18 years, since a 2-0 triumph in the old Third Division in 1988.

The 2-1 victory over the Cottagers also put to bed another sorrowful fact because the last time the club enjoyed home win over the west London side in the top flight was 39 years ago, a 3-0 triumph in 1967.

The win was far from convincing in front of more than 28,000 supporters but that didn't worry the caretaker boss.

"My bottle of wine will taste nice tonight," said the 41-year-old who also enjoyed his first triumph in charge of the club.

"From a selfish point of view it was nice to get that first win under my belt but more importantly that was for the supporters.

"I said to the players 'let's send them home with a smile on their faces' and I'm pleased we have done that.

"I'm pleased for everyone connected with the club and I thought the supporters were absolutely magnificent.

"They got behind us when we needed them to, and when the boys thanked them at the end and the fans were singing "Sunderland till I die".

"When you've been connected to the club as long as I have then it always brings a lump to your throat.

"In terms of the way our supporters are, they are a unique breed and if I was going to war I would want them in the trenches with me.

"Every supporter all over the country loves their club but for me, ours are that bit more unique."

The home side were hanging on for the last 15 minutes after Tomasz Radzinski pulled a goal back, but Ball later admitted it was always going to be difficult to defend their lead and says his side displayed great resilience to play out for the win.

He said: "When you're 2-0 up it is always a difficult to defend unless you're in the ascendancy. Fulham scored a hell of a goal to get back in it and we were a bit twitchy after it.

"But I thought the boys held firm and we were hitting them on the counter attack."

Ball put the club's first home triumph this season down to a solid team effort but a few individuals deserved a mention after the game.

He added: "I thought a lot of the players were outstanding tonight but I would like to give a special mention to Andy Welsh coming back.

"It was lovely to Browny to score (his first for the club this season) because I was asking him only this week how many had he got this season?

"But I was pleased for Anthony Le Tallec too because he scored a good goal too.

"It is good when you get your two forwards on the scoresheet and they enjoyed it."

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