Aiden McGeady lit up the Wham Stadium with a moment of quality that finally sparked Sunderland's season into life.
With the Black Cats' Carabao Cup tie against Accrington Stanley poised at 1-1, Jack Ross sent on McGeady 20 minutes from time and ten minutes later he left the home defence trailing in his wake as he restored his side's lead.
Fellow sub Charlie Wyke added the icing on the cake in injury time, killing off any hopes Accrington had of taking the game into extra time.
Before McGeady's strike, Sunderland were in danger of suffering more frustration, with the impressive Marc McNulty's first-half opener - his first for the club since joining on loan from Reading - cancelled out by Colby Bishop's penalty on the hour, following a clumsy challenge by stand-in left-back Conor McLaughlin on Jordan Clark.
But McGeady's touch of class made all the difference and victory sent Sunderland through to the second round of the competition, where they will make a speedy return to Lancashire to face Premier League Burnley at Turf Moor in a fortnight's time.
More importantly, it eased the pressure on Ross after the Black Cats' first two league games of the season ended in 1-1 draws.
The real release will come when league wins start flowing, but this was a start.
Sunderland looked much more comfortable having ditched the 3-4-3 system used in the opening two games in favour of a back four at Accrington.
Even with half-a-dozen personnel changes, the players looked more at ease playing 4-4-2.
That was reflected in a more positive approach which saw them muster seven shots on target - more than they had managed in their two previous games added together.
In addition to the three goals they scored, they brought a couple of good saves out of Accrington goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov while McNulty hit the crossbar in the second period.
At the other end, Sunderland were a little more open than Ross would have liked, but debutant keeper Lee Burge had little to do aside from pick the ball out of his net following the penalty.
Now Sunderland are through to the next round, the question will be what lessons Ross takes from this performance ahead of Saturday's league game against Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light.
The change in system worked, so it would be a major surprise to see him revert to three at the back against Pompey.
McGeady is sure to start, fitness permitting.
And the performances of Alim Ozturk , Max Power , Grant Leadbitter , and Chris Maguire , must put them in contention to start on Saturday.
Charlie Wyke's goal showed he is back in business and that will add to the pressure on Will Grigg , whose crisis of confidence continues.
Sunderland are up and running in the cup; but the nerves on Wearside will not be settled until they begin to look like League One promotion contenders.
