Sunderland fans are capable of turning the Stadium of Light into enough of a fortress to keep them in the Premier League.
Their home record stands at 100 per cent and this latest comeback was special having trailed with 10 minutes left.
Black Cats fans produced an ear-splitting sound to greet a penalty save from goalkeeper Robin Roefs and it was utter bedlam when Wilson Isidor headed the winner after 96 minutes.
The striker, whose partner gave birth to a baby daughter on Friday, looked overcome at full-time and shook his head in disbelief at the atmosphere created by his supporters.
Sunderland made it two wins from two at the Stadium of Light since their recent promotion
The Black Cats came back from 1-0 down vs Brentford on Saturday to earn a last-gasp winner
FANATICAL SUPPORTERS ARE A THROWBACK
The last time Sunderland faced Brentford in the top flight, King George VI was on the throne. A lot has changed since 1948 but traditionalists would have revelled in the unbridled intensity and noise generated by real fans.
Sunderland were second-best for long periods but the supporters somehow willed them to win. Even after Brentford took the lead after 77 minutes, they got louder.
When Taylor pointed to the spot in Sunderland’s favour after 82 minutes and Enzo Le Fee put it away, there was a sense of inevitability that the winner was coming in injury-time.
A quality cross by Granit Xhaka was nodded in by Isidor in front of the loudest section of Sunderland fans. The normally-composed Caoimhin Kelleher let the ball squirm through his fingers – he’d clearly forgotten to bring his earplugs.
Bees boss Keith Andrews admitted: ‘This stadium is renowned for emotion. I’ve been coming here for years as a player. I am well aware of it brings.’
It’s rare these days for a promoted team to stay up but you wouldn’t bet against Sunderland bucking the trend. Nobody is going to fancy a visit to raucous Wearside.
TAYLOR GRAPPLES WITH TOUGH PENALTY CALLS
How many officials turn a blind eye to shoving and wrestling in the penalty area at set pieces? Not Taylor, who was consistent in awarding two spot-kicks many others wouldn’t have dared.
Sunderland were fuming when Reinildo was penalised for bundling over Nathan Collins at 0-0 but Roefs got him out of trouble by keeping out Schade’s poor effort.
Referee Anthony Taylor made two daring decisions to award penalties for shoving in the box
Boyhood Sunderland fan and former player Jordan Henderson was booed by some supporters
However, with the home side trailing 1-0, they got the benefit of Taylor’s eagle eye. Brentford’s Rico Henry had his arms wrapped around the chest of Habib Diarra causing the Senegal international to fall. It’ll be interesting if more officials now take a stricter line on grappling as Taylor has done.
LOVE AND SOME HATE FOR HENDO
Few players are more Marmite than Jordan Henderson whose inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad drew predictable criticism.
Back on familiar territory with Brentford, the boyhood Sunderland fan and former player was booed by a section of the crowd whenever he touched the ball.
It seemed a bit harsh as Hendo had been at Wembley in May to cheer them on in the play-off final. Thankfully, the haters turned out to be a minority. When Henderson was substituted after 71 minutes, he received a big ovation from all four sides of the ground.
He had a decent game too, showing the leadership Tuchel covets.
THE HEIR TO MBUEMO AND WISSA
When people were writing off Brentford because of Bryan Mbuemo’s departure, they were forgetting about £30milion Brazilian Igor Thiago who hardly featured last season because of a knee injury.
Now fit and firing, he took his tally to three in four with a fine downward header to give the visitors the lead after 77 minutes. Wissa’s future will be decided in the next couple of days before the transfer window shuts but whether he stays or goes, Brentford do have a proper marksman on the books.
‘His appetite is infectious,’ said Andrews. ‘This probably wasn’t a fair result for us but football isn’t always fair.’
£30milion Brazilian Igor Thiago could be Brentford’s heir to Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa
Wilson Isidor became a father for a second time on Friday, then came off the bench to score Sunderland’s winner on Saturday
BABY POWER
Not a bad 24 hours for Wilson Isidor. He became a father for a second time on Friday, met up with his team-mates on Saturday morning and came off the bench shortly before 5pm to score a crucial winning goal.
‘It’s a special time and a busy time!’ acknowledged his manager, Regis Le Bris.
