A DREADFUL mistake by Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen gifted Fulham their opening Premiership victory in their first game back in the top flight at Craven Cottage for 33 years.

The game looked to be heading for a goalless stalemate when the Danish international kicked the ball straight to French midfielder Steed Malbranque, who provided a simple pass in the 70th minute for striker Barry Hayles to break the deadlock.

It was a tragedy for Sunderland, who had battled hard on a hot, sultry night and looked set for a share of the spoils after keeping tabs on the dangerous former Newcastle striker Louis Saha, who did everything but score in a classy first half display but was finally rewarded when he put the result beyond doubt in the 85th minute.

But Sunderland had further reason to feel like kicking themselves for leaving London empty handed, for both Kevin Phillips and Kevin Kilbane missed superb opportunities on the break - Phillips was the easier of the two but he fluffed his shot from close in.

Sunderland manager Peter Reid came up with a shock team change when he brought in 20-year-old George McCartney in the centre of defence in place of the injured Emerson Thome. Belfast-born McCartney, a Northern Ireland Under-21 cap who has just been called up into the full international squad, could not have asked for a harder test.

Sunderland's only other change to the starting line-up was the return of Scottish international Don Hutchison, the subject of unsuccessful transfer bids this week from Glasgow Rangers and West Ham, who replaced Argentinian Julio Arca after serving a one-match ban.

Fulham went close after a poor early clearance by McCartney was picked up and Hayles sent a glancing header wide from ten yards.

Former Sunderland defender Andy Melville made an important block to prevent a shot from Phillips reaching the target after Brevett took the ball off the toes of Lilian Laslandes in the ninth minute following an enterprising through ball from Hutchison.

Saha showed some great footwork on the edge of the Sunderland box and found enough space to squeeze a low shot just wide of the upright in the 13th minute.

The Frenchman was proving a handful and a mistake by Stefan Schwarz put Fulham on the offensive in the 20th minute and again Saha was in the thick of the action on the edge of the penalty area but he was unable to engineer enough space to create a chance.

Hutchison was whistled up for a high boot and Fulham almost took the lead in the 22nd minute when Saha's curling right-foot shot was deflected over.

The home side was piling on the pressure and a shot from Hayles was forced away for another corner before McCartney - seeing plenty of action - was booked for pulling back the striker in the next Fulham attack. The home pressure seemed relentless and Sunderland had an escape in the 26th minute when Saha ghosted past Craddock only to pull his left foot shot wide.

But Sunderland broke away and should have taken the lead in the 29th minute when Gavin McCann centred perfectly from the left to find Phillips unmarked eight yards out, only for the striker to hurry his shot wide - a miss made even harder to bear as it was in front of watching England supremo Sven- Goran Eriksson.

Fulham were quickly back on the attack, however, and Sorensen had to make a great save to deny Saha, who burst dangerously into the box.

But again Sunderland broke quickly and squandered another wonderful chance, with Kilbane slicing his way through the home defence, only to drive his low left foot shot wide in the 32nd minute.

Fulham could hardly have been closer to a goal than in the 36th minute when former Newcastle defender Alain Goma outjumped the Sunderland defence to meet a corner only to see his header bounce inches wide.

Despite the ever-threatening efforts of Saha the Fulham defence did not look too clever under pressure and Melville again came to the rescue when he blocked a follow-up shot from Hutchison after Laslandes won possession on the edge of the box.

And Laslandes produced a spectacular overhead scissors kick in the 42nd minute to meet a right wing centre from fullback Bernt Haas and there was a gasp from the crowd as the unexpected effort flew inches wide. Phillips did not have long to wait for a second half chance when Haas burst down the right to find the striker, who was able to turn a full circle before finishing with a disappointing right foot straight at the keeper.

And Hutchison was no better with his finishing as he drove a low, 22-yard right foot shot well wide after a crisp pass from Kilbane. Both sides were cancelling themselves out in midfield and breaks forward were becoming rarer as the players tired in the sticky atmosphere.

Saha looked to be struggling when he hit a low right foot shot from 20 uards, but the effort did not pack enough power to trouble Sorensen, who saved.

Much of the first half pace had gone out of the game, but Bjarne Goldbaek produced a burst up the right and the reliable Craddock made an important interception.

But a bad mistake by Sorensen gifted Fulham a goal in the 70th minute. The big Dane kicked the ball straight to Malbranque on the edge of the box and he passed the ball for Hayles to run on and beat the keeper from ten yards.

And Fulham put the result beyond doubt when Saha broke from the left, beating Craddock to see his right foot shot take a deflection off McCartney before beating the wrong-footed Sorensen five minutes from time

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