Chopra gets the ball rolling for Keane machine

Roy Keane raised more than eyebrows when he splashed out £5 million for the 22-year-old Geordie, who had to go to Cardiff City to establish his reputation.

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Up to the challenge: Sunderland's Kieran Richardson battles for possession

But the manager was lifting his arm in celebration when Chopra sealed snatched victory against Tottenham's much-fancied team in the fourth minute of injury-time.

Chopra knows he has to work quickly if he is to win over the Sunderland fans and, on as a 72nd-minute substitute, he did not just prove a point — he made it three, striking a crisp right-footer past England goalkeeper Paul Robinson after Anthony Gardner had missed a cross from Ross Wallace.

"Being a Geordie, I knew what this goal meant to Sunderland fans," he said. "It was fantastic. I was disappointed when I wasn't on from the start, but I was desperate to get on and score a goal . . . and that's what happened.

"After playing for Newcastle, I have felt under pressure coming here.

"I knew it would be difficult to be accepted by the Sunderland fans, especially after what's happened in the past — maybe they'll love me now."

Chopra's "previous" had certainly not endeared himself to the Wearsiders. Two seasons ago he scored one of Newcastle's goals in a 4-1 win at the Stadium of Light,rubbing salt into the home fans' wounds by making the most of his victory celebrations. Last season, his two goals at Sunderland earned Cardiff City a 2-1 success.

Keane said: "I don't care whether he comes from Newcastle or New Zealand as long as he sticks the ball in the net. I've always said if we create chances for him he'll take them."

Martin Jol refused to condemn Gardner, saying only that he was a last-minute choice after Michael Dawson damaged an ankle in training on Friday. Sadly, it was not the Spurs central defender's only misdemeanour.

Robinson spared the blushes of his team-mate in the 38th minute, throwing himself at Daryl Murphy's feet to block the shot after the striker was left in the clear by Gardner's clumsy lapse. The goalkeeper had come to his side's rescue again to deny Sunderland in the 88th minute, saving onehanded from Dickson Etuhu.

The Spurs boss criticised his players for their lack of urgency. "We made it difficult for ourselves," he added.

"When you have the quality we have, you must take your chances or the opposition is always liable to score, and that's just what happened here. Our delivery was poor and we didn't work hard enough."

Such was the Sunderland defence's stranglehold on the substituted Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane that record goalkeeper signing Craig Gordon was given few opportunities to justify his £9m price tag.

"He didn't have a lot to do, but what little he did, he did well," said Keane.

Dream start: Michael Chopra scores the winner

"He has already made a huge impact around the place since he came last Thursday."

Keane's contained delight was in complete contrast to his opposite number's despondency.

The curtain came up on a Barclays Premier League season bright with optimism and expectancy that the Sunderland manager can succeed where previous incumbents, such as his former Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy, failed.

In Sunderland's most recent Premier League campaigns, when relegated with 19 and then 15 points, home victories were so rare that they destroyed any chance of survival.

But here there was plenty to admire as the fiercely competitive Keane supervised a hard-working and energetic performance.

It backed up his assertion that the "S-word" will be uttered more on other grounds this season.

Jol's heavy summer spending has persuaded some pundits that Tottenham could gatecrash the top four,and they may believe this was three points missed.

In truth, Sunderland looked the team much more likely to win and, having beaten Fulham in the final home game of their last season in the big time, their more stats-conscious fans could bask in the satisfaction of back-to-back three-pointers.

"This was a victory created out of a desire to keep going," said Keane.

"Every one of the players was magnificent. They all played their part.

"But there's a long way to go yet . . . now it's on to the next challenge at Birmingham on Wednesday."