Eyebrows were raised when Roy Keane paid Southampton �6million for striker Kenwyne Jones, but he capped a fine home debut with a superb 29th-minute strike to set his side on their way, and then provided the cross from which Ross Wallace made it 2-0 after the break.

The margin of victory would have been more comfortable had either Jones or Wallace made the most of gilt-edged chances which came their way either side of half-time. However, after going four games without a single goal, two were more than enough to kill off a poor Royals side despite Dave Kitson's late consolation effort.

In the run-up to the game, Keane had insisted the best possible tribute his players could pay to Porterfield would be three points, and they set about their task with relish.

The loss of Kieran Richardson and Carlos Edwards through injury had robbed the Irishman of two of his most creative forces, but the men he selected to plug the gaps proved more than capable.

Local boy Grant Leadbitter lined up on the right, while Wallace added the width on the left. Indeed, much of the Black Cats' better play was channelled through Leadbitter. However, if it was Leadbitter calling the shots in midfield, Jones was making a big impression ahead of him as he made life intensely difficult for the Reading defence.

He had already drilled in a long-range effort which caused Hahnemann some discomfort when he opened his Sunderland account with a superb 29th-minute strike. Leadbitter was the architect as he served the ball up on the edge of the area for the former Saints hitman to smash a left-foot shot into the bottom corner. Jones then might have doubled his tally with a header which he directed just wide two minutes later.

Jones took little time to atone for his miss when, less than two minutes after the restart, he danced into space before drilling in a cross which eluded Michael Chopra, but arrived at Wallace's feet for the Scot to make it 2-0.

Wallace, who was twice booked for removing his shirt after scoring last season, risked the wrath of his manager for doing exactly the same again. However, Keane had more pressing concerns on 53 minutes when the Royals finally started to get their act together.

Dave Kitson saw an 80th minute shot deflected over the bar as Reading sought consolation, and that duly arrived five minutes later when he glanced home a Nicky Shorey cross to set up an anxious conclusion for the home side. Sunderland managed to hang on however, and claim their first points since the second day of the season.

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