Derby 1 - 2 Sunderland

Roy Keane returned for the start of the second half wearing a suit jacket, although it was his team that underwent the greatest transformation. The former Manchester United midfielder claimed last week that he has often been the recipient of inspirational speeches from his old managers and it can only be imagined his own words at the interval were similarly uplifting. Sunderland, seemingly heading for a fifth league defeat, made sure Keane started his managerial career with a victory through two goals in three minutes.

Keane celebrated the second in customary fashion, clenching his fist and punching the air with delight. Indeed, there appears little change in Keane the manager and Keane the footballer. He was an animated figure on the touchline throughout, haranguing the officials and responding with disbelief when it was announced that five minutes of adding time would be played. It mattered little, though, as Sunderland stood firm, securing three points to imbue Keane with the winning feeling he thrived on as a player.

Keane's presence fuelled the expectation pursuing Sunderland's arrival here. More than 5,000 of their supporters made the trip from Wearside and many of them were waiting when the team coach pulled up outside the ground as the familiar chant of 'Keano' welcomed the new manager. It was some 90 minutes later when he emerged from the tunnel, his path to the dug out illuminated by photographer's flashlights.

Dressed in shirt and tie, Keane cut a very different image to the rampaging midfielder who tore into the opposition, although that passion, desire and commitment, such a hallmark of his domineering style as player, has not diminished now he switched to management. That much was apparent in the opening 45 minutes when Keane twice left his seat to berate officials for their poor decision-making. His mood was darkened further on the stroke of half time when Matt Oakley swept Derby into the lead.

Sunderland had started brightly, controlling the early exchanges. Keane had wasted no time making his own mark. Little more than half of the side that started against West Brom on Bank Holiday Monday survived here as he gave debuts to five of his six new signings. Liam Miller, one of those deadline day additions, came close to giving the visitors the lead on 27 minutes, his thundering right-foot shot whistling past the far upright.

It was a strike that brought Keane to his feet, although he was soon patrolling the touchline for more predictable reasons. Ian Evans, the linesman on Keane's nearside, had already flagged late for offside on a couple of occasions when another delayed reaction proved too much for the Irishman. He moving slowly, menacingly towards Evans and although it was not possible to hear his comments, it is fair to assume that he was not congratulating the official on his performance.

Moments later it was the referee Tony Bates's turn. Michael Johnson's back-pass to Stephen Bywater appeared deliberate, but Bates, much to Keane's frustration, did not award Sunderland a free-kick. Keane was outraged and more misery soon followed. Mo Camara swung a deep cross to the back post that Steven Howard, having earlier hit the bar with a ferocious drive, nodded down into the path of Oakley. The former Southampton midfielder, unmarked, swept in from around eight yards.

Having come close to falling further behind when Camara's 30-yard free-kick stung the hands of Ben Alnwick, Sunderland struck twice in quick succession to turn the match on its head. Chris Brown snatched the first, ramming home from inside the six-yard box after Graham Kavanagh swapped passes with Miller.

Derby were still reeling from that setback when Ross Wallace, signed from Celtic, burst through before drilling a low shot beyond Stephen Bywater and into the far corner. Keane's new career had got off to the best possible start.