SUNDERLAND last night grabbed their final opportunity to avoid becoming the first team in the history of the Football League to go through a season without a home win.

They may have avoided defeat against Fulham but it hardly papers over the cracks of a wretched top-flight return for the Wearsiders.

Goals by twin strike pair Anthony Le Tallec and Chris Brown either side of half-time secured a deserved first Premier League home victory in nearly three and a half years.

Fulham looked as though they should be joining Sunderland in the Championship and although Tomasz Radzinski pulled a goal back with 14 minutes left the Black Cats hung on.

Although they will still finish with the worst points total in Premier League history - a record they set when mustering 19 points three years ago - the final whistle brought cheers similar to those which greeted promotion last season.

The players milked the applause from the 28,000 fans who turned out to watch their side's final chance of the season to break their home hoodoo.

News of Niall Quinn's plans to buy the club may have suggested things will improve and, in the long term they probably will, but in the short term things could get worse.

If the Black Cats fail to beat Aston Villa on Sunday they will set a new mark for the fewest wins in a Premiership campaign, and fewest points in the highest division in the 25 seasons since three points for a win was introduced.

Should they lose at Villa Park they would also break the record for most losses in a Premier League campaign.

Caretaker boss Kevin Ball rang the changes again in trying to find a winning formula against Chris Coleman's side. In came Steve Caldwell, Justin Hoyte, Anthony Le Tallec, and Andy Welsh back from his loan spell at Leicester City. Out went Kevin Kyle, Daryl Murphy, Danny Collins and Jonathan Stead.

Last night's insipid encounter was just like most of Sunderland's performances this season - full of endeavour and effort but low on skill and creativity. Except that this time they were rewarded with a victory.

The Cottagers arrived on Wearside boasting three consecutive victories, during which they ended an unwanted record of their own when Steed Malbranque netted a winner at Manchester City to halt a record run without an away win.

It was the Belgian who marked the first flurry of excitement when he spectacularly volleyed over from 18 yards after Hiedar Helguson flicked on after eight minutes.

Sunderland's best early effort came when Whitehead tried a speculative effort from 25 yards that Mark Crossley saved at a second attempt.

The home side then forced five corners in the opening half hour but nothing came of them and the game looked as if it was going to drift into yet another dismal show at the Stadium of Light until Le Tallec illuminated the proceedings with a flash of inspiration.

When George McCartney took a good position on the left and whipped a dangerous ball in the French youngster drifted across his marker, Ian Pearce, and deftly headed past Crossley from eight yards after 33 minutes.

The goal may have roused the troops on the terraces but it turned out to be the only highlight of the opening period.

Five minutes after the break Nyron Nosworthy did well down the right but Hoyte stepped on the ball from his cross in a central position in front of goal and the chance went begging.

Nosworthy was impressive and it was no surprise when he was involved when the Black Cats netted their second goal in the 57th minute.

The former Gillingham man cut inside his marker and let fly from 20 yards, which Crossley spilled, and Chris Brown had the simple task of tapping home from close range.

The comfort of a two-goal cushion certainly boosted the home side and they expressed themselves with a lot more freedom than they had previously done this season.

But alarm bells started ringing when substitute Radzinski stepped inside from the right flank and rifled past Kelvin Davis from 18 yards in the 76th minute.

The Canadian born striker then set Sunderland hearts fluttering once again six minutes later when he turned in the box, only for skipper Gary Breen to make a good block. The visitors continued to press and England full back Wayne Bridge, who was poor overall, had an effort from 25 yards saved by Davis at the second attempt. But the Black Cats managed to hang on and win for the first time in a Premier League home fixture since a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in December, 2002.

* England left-back Ashley Cole made a welcome return to first-team action following seven months but refused to look too far ahead of himself after Arsenal's 3-1 win at Manchester City.

Freddie Ljungberg's opener was cancelled out by David Sommeil in the first half - but after the break, two goals from substitute Jose Antonio Reyes ensured the Gunners moved to within a point of fourth-placed Tottenham.

''I was a little bit tired, and we could have defended the corner a little bit better for the City goal,'' said Cole, who could feature again at home to Wigan in Sunday's final round of Barclays Premiership matches as well as possibly in the Champions League final against Barcelona.

''I am happy to be playing now. I hope I can take my chance, be fit for Sunday and the Champions League final - but I'm not thinking about the Champions League final.''

Result: Sunderland 2, Fulham 1.

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