As welcome-back parties go this was perfect. Thirty-three years after Craven Cottage had last staged a top-flight fixture, goals from Barry Hayles and Louis Saha ensured Fulham's first Premiership win and suggested they will hardly be among the stragglers this season.
After Hayles had capitalised on a poor clearance by Sunderland's goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen to score in the 70th minute, Saha added a second with a low shot which took a deflection off George McCartney.
After losing only narrowly at Manchester United on Sunday, Fulham must have felt confident of recording their first win. Certainly there was an excited, raucous atmosphere beforehand but surprisingly, in such circumstances, Fulham's chairman Mohamed Al Fayed declined to carry out his usual pre-match walk around the pitch, huge black-and-white scarf in hand. But it is a fair bet Chairman Mo felt a glow inside as cries of "Al Fayed" filled the air with those of "Ooh, Aah Tigana".
When Al Fayed took over the club in May 1997, shortly after promotion to the Second Division, he announced he wanted Premiership status within five years.
Having achieved that ahead of schedule he has set his sights even higher. "It is my belief that Fulham Football Club can become one of the biggest football names in the world," he wrote in the programme.
Within 10 minutes Rufus Brevett was involved in chances at both ends as Fulham's neat, quick passing game met the determined, physical challenge of a Sunderland side who are increasingly capable of slick football themselves.
It was from his cross that Hayles sent a header wide. Then, at the other end, a misunderstanding between Brevett and Edwin van der Sar presented Kevin Phillips with a chance, Andy Melville's fine tackle denying the striker.
Although Sunderland occasionally looked dangerous on the break, not least through Kevin Kilbane on the left flank, Fulham were dominating a game which moved at a relentless pace. Sean Davis's defensive qualities and simple distribution complemented the thrusts of Steed Malbranque from midfield, and Saha and Hayles were combining well up front.
Much of Fulham's interplay was impressive, and the athletic Saha was causing considerable problems for a defence.
Four chances had come the Frenchman's way inside half an hour as his movement stood out but three times his efforts were off target, once because of a deflection, before he forced a save out of Sorensen.
Alain Goma came closer still, sending a header inches wide of Sorensen's left post from a corner, though by then Sunderland had demonstrated the threat they pose on the counter-attack. Phillips volleyed wide from a cross by Kilbane, who shortly after shot wide, and before the interval Lilian Laslandes came close with a spectacular bicycle kick.
After a first half of such speed and excitement it was no surprise that things initially went off the boil after the break. The Fulham fans, though, were in no mood for silence.
Saha did force Sorensen into a low save but despite the sterling efforts of John Collins in midfield, the spark seemed to have disappeared from Fulham's game and Sunderland were looking increasingly comfortable when Sorensen's poor clearance from a backpass enabled Hayles to break the deadlock.
The Dane presented Malbranque with possession and two quick interchanges of passes created a chance which Hayles took with minimum fuss. Then Saha added gloss to the victory to make it a night to remember.
FULHAM: Van der Sar; Finnan, Melville, Goma, Brevett (Harley, 65min); Davis; Goldbaek,Malbranque, Collins; Hayles, Saha.
SUNDERLAND : Sorensen; Haas, Craddock, McCartney, Gray; Hutchison, McCann, Schwarz (Bellion, 76), Kilbane; Phillips, Laslandes (Quinn, 73).
Referee: B Knight.
