SUPERSUB Wilson Isidor celebrated the birth of his daughter 24 hours earlier with an injury time winner to maintain Sunderland’s 100 per cent record at a raucous Stadium of Light.
If his goal off the bench against West Ham a fortnight ago was more spectacular, this was more dramatic.
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Enzo Le Fee fed Granit Xhaka and when his right wing cross came in, Isidor’s header bounced in front of Cadimhin Kelleher, who couldn’t keep the ball out.
It was a poor afternoon for the ex-Liverpool keeper, in stark contrast to home No. 1 Robin Roefs who had earlier saved a Kevin Schade penalty.
Home fans had already settled for a draw after a second half in which the Black Cats had stared adversity in the face.
But after last season’s Play-off adventure, Mackems are becoming quite accustomed to fairytale finale.
So much for pantomime frolics, Enzo Le Fee had held his nerve from the penalty spot just when it looked as if Brentford would condemn them to a second straight defeat.
The Frenchman was incorrectly named on the official teamsheet as Fe Fee and he produced the required theatrics in the 82nd minute sending Kelleher the wrong way after sub Ricardo Henry had hauled down Habib Diarra.
It felt like a get-out-of-jail goal for the Black Cats.
Brentford had missed a penalty of their own on the hour when Roefs kept out Schade’s effort.
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But his heroics appeared in vain when Igor Thiago got ahead of Trai Hume to meet Frank Onyeka’s cross with a downward header which reared up off the turf and off the underside of the bar into the net.
The £30m buy from Bruges had scored a consolation goal in the 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest a fortnight ago.
The Brazilian’s second looked like counting for something until referee Anthony Taylor – who had a fine game – spotted Henry’s infringement.
It was Sunderland who pressed for the winner and before Isidor’s moment of glory, Hume and the sub himself had two frantic penalty appeals turned down.
Until Isidor celebrated fatherhood the way he would have wanted, Sunderland’s new keeper looked destined to be the afternoon’s star performer.
Roefs on fire, the fans had chanted when he dived to his right to push away Schade’s tame kick.
It brought a dull affair to life and lifted spirits after Reinildo’s moment of madness had threatened to hand the intiative to Brentford.
For someone schooled by Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid, the left-back’s decision to wrestle Nathan Collins to the ground as he defended a corner was as surprising as it was reckless.
Sunderland’s new Dutch No. 1 spared his blushes and was immediately lauded by the Mackem faithful.
But then came Thiago’s goal which for a few reality-shuddering minutes looked like bringing the Premier League newcomers crashing down to earth.
Granit Xhaka and ex-Sunderland midfieldeJordan Henderson experienced some highly-charged skirmishes during their days at Arsenal and Liverpool.
The pair continue to cajole, bark out orders and organise as they did in their pomp but that’s where comparisons end with previous duels.
For an hour, these two teams simply cancelled each other out with a goalless draw looking inevitable.
It was the home side, driven on by the forceful running of Habib Diarra who were on the frontfoot in the opening period without ever getting a clear sight of goal.
VAR may split opinion but you won’t find too many Sunderland fans complaining about it just yet.
In the play-off final at Wembley in May, it came to the Black Cats’ rescue disallowing a Sheffield United goal which would have left them trailing 2-0 before half-time.
And yesterday, Brentford had a 21st minute Dango Outtara goal ruled out when replays showed he was marginally offside when he raced on to Nathan Collins’ through ball before skilfully finding the net.
It would have been harsh on Sunderland had they gone behind at this stage.
Roared on by another raucous Stadium of Light crowd, they made a vibrant start, fusing patient build-up play with some telling crosses.
One such delivery from Trai Hume almost embarrassed Cadimhin Kelleher who fumbled in attempting to gather with Enzo Le Fee just failing to take advantage of the Irishman’s error.
Sunderland had a series of half-chances early on.
Chemsdine Talbi had an air-shot, Nordi Mukiele shot over the bar and an appeal for handball against Michael Kayode was waved away.
Brentford didn’t have their first goal attempt until the 17th minute when Kevin Schade’s glancing header drifted wide.
With half-time approaching Schade headed narrowly wide of the near post while at the other end, Omar Alderete’s meaty volley thudded into Collins’ midriff.
When Henderson was substituted on 71 minutes, he was applauded by all four sides of the ground.
At that stage, with the scores level, he was probably well satisfied with his homecoming.
He reckoned without Sunderland’s penchant for their own happy endings.
