Those looking for signs that Roy Keane’s revolution by the North Sea is running out of steam would not merely have noted that they lost the season’s first two home games, but would have nodded sagely at the Wear-Tees derby being played out before 11,000 empty Stadium Of Light seats and a crowd 7,000 shy of the teams’ April meeting.

A dismal first-half showing from Keane’s team was hardly balm for troubled souls. Then, when Teemu Tainio was forced off with a shoulder injury, Michael Chopra arrived, fresh from tabloid scandal and rehab, but more importantly a hat-trick in Friday’s practice match, following his midweek strike against Liverpool reserves. A bravura, one-man second-half performance later and Chopra had scored twice to keep the revolution bubbling. Meanwhile, Middlesbrough sloped home, scratching their heads in glum wonder after they dominated the game’s first 80 minutes, but failed to glean even one point, let alone the three that were theirs for the taking.

“Without a shadow of a doubt, we rode our luck,” admitted Keane. “I take my hat off to Middlesbrough.”

With Tuncay Sanli injured on duty with Turkey last week and Mido a late withdrawal after injuring himself in the warm up, Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate deployed Stewart Downing as a striker alongside Afonso Alves, with Downing’s own Mini-Me, fellow winger Adam Johnson,tucking in behind them.

Facing two left wingers should have thwarted Pascal Chimbonda’s attacking notions. In the 12th minute, though, he was ambling back from the opposing penalty area when Alves ghosted through the space left by the carefree Frenchman, only to be belligerently blocked by Tainio in the penalty area.

The visiting players, supporters and manager screamed for a penalty: referee Howard Webb shook his head. To Middlesbrough’s delight Chimbonda continued to overlap. In fact, with Boro’s midfield ensuring the potentially lethal El-Hadji Diouf and Djibril Cisse were starved of service, Teesside bested Wearside and only Craig Gordon’s heroics prevented them taking the lead in the 19th minute when he reacted brilliantly to block Downing’s close range thunderbolt .

Seven minutes after Gordon’s moment Middlesbrough were more culpable when Downing turned provider and perceptively picked out Jeremie Aliadiere as the home defence watched admiringly.

The striker miscontrolled, before steering his shot wide. Middlesbrough had an even more straight-forward opportunity in the 38th minute when Alves’s clever running and Johnson’s through ball dragged the home defence hither and thither. Through alone, Alves shot weakly at the giant target Gordon had made of himself.

If Middlesbrough had only themselves to blame for not being ahead at the break, after it they continued where they left off. Ominously, Chopra’s presence and Keane’s reshuffle had given Sunderland a more attacking hue, but first they had to defend yet again.

Soon, Gordon was again foiling Alves, but with Chopra galvanising the hosts, slowly Sunderland began to wake up and on the hour they almost scored a fluke when Diouf, always the master of the darker arts, pounced when Ross Turnbull fluffed a simple roll-out. Diouf found Cisse, who shot at the unguarded goal, only for Robert Huth to slide in and clear.

Turnbull was more adept soon afterwards, when expertly pawing aside Kieran Richardson’s pile driver and when both teams made a double substitution the simmering pot began to overheat. Then came the moment both managers agreed the game pivoted upon: Aliadiere charged into the penalty area, Nosworthy tugged at his shirt and the Frenchman fell like last week’s Dow Jones.

Downing, amongst the Premiership’s most subtle caressers of a ball, crudely hacked his second penalty miss of the season over Gordon’s bar.

Now, as Chopra sizzled, Middlesbrough buckled. George McCartney tapped the ball inside to Andy Reid, who found Richardson who, in turn, threaded the ball through for Chopra to begin his personal and professional redemption with a supreme finish.

“There was never any problem with his character,” insisted Keane. “But it’s important that top players live a decent life off the pitch. They need a clear mind and towards the end of last season Chops’s wasn’t.”

Staggered at being in arrears, Middlesbrough abandoned all thoughts of defence and the hitherto bungling assassins of Sunderland turned into deadly executioners.

“We were excellent,” sighed Southgate. “Before the penalty we’d have been disappointed to draw. My players are still learning, but although we weren’t ruthless enough, if we keep on like this, we’ll get results.”

Turnbull reacted brilliantly to tip over Chopra’s top-corner-bound header, but the substitute was not finished. When Daryl Murphy’s added time punt deflected into the penalty area, there were no blue shirts to prevent Steed Malbranque from unselfishly squaring into the path of Chopra, who tapped home. Redemption indeed.

SUNDERLAND: Gordon 7, Chimbonda 6, Nosworthy 5, Ferdinand 5, McCartney 6, Malbranque 6, Whitehead 6, Tainio 7 (Chopra 45min, 8), Richardson 6, Cisse 7 (Murphy 69min), Diouf 6 (Reid 68min)

MIDDLESBROUGH: Turnbull 6, Wheater 6, Huth 6, Pogatetz 6, Taylor 6, Aliadiere 5, Digard 5 (Shawky 68min), O’Neil 6, Johnson 7 (Hoyte 68min), Downing 7, Alves 6