DAVID MOYES began life as Sunderland manager in the South Yorkshire stands as he watched his new employers continue their pre-season preparations with a 2-1 win over Rotherham United.

Having been confirmed as the Black Cats’ new manager when he signed a four-year deal this morning, Moyes travelled to Rotherham’s New York Stadium to watch his players in action for the first time.

He walked onto the pitch at the final whistle to applaud the Sunderland fans, who chanted their approval at his appointment throughout the game.

Moyes had no involvement in the selection or tactics for the game, with backroom duo Robbie Stockdale and Paul Bracewell assuming managerial duties, but will have been satisfied with the vast majority of what he saw.

Having claimed a first-half lead through Fabio Borini, Sunderland were pegged back when Jerry Yates equalised in the first minute of the second half.

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However, they struck again with six minutes left, with trialist Charles N’Zogbia, who is a free agent following his release from Aston Villa, drilling a low shot into the corner.

N’Zogbia was much improved from his lacklustre midweek display at Hartlepool, and one of Moyes’ first acts as Sunderland boss will be to decide whether the midfielder deserves a contract on Wearside.

The former Everton and Manchester United manager took his seat in the stands a couple of minutes before kick-off, and was immediately serenaded by the 3,000-or-so away supporters who had travelled from the North-East.

His swift appointment has clearly gone down well, and he will now head to France with his new squad tomorrow morning ahead of a three-game tour that will tell him a lot more about the strengths and weaknesses of the group he has inherited.

He watched N’Zogbia play in a deep-lying midfield position, and the former Newcastle midfielder strengthened his case for a long-term stay with a competent display that saw him spray a number of well-judged passes around the field and set up his side’s opener shortly before the half-hour mark.

The Black Cats were the dominant side throughout the first half, and would have claimed an earlier lead had Jermain Defoe not narrowly missed the target after Jack Rodwell sent him galloping clear.

Defoe deftly lobbed the ball over Millers goalkeeper Lee Camp, but the ball drifted just wide of the left-hand post.

Wahbi Khazri also went close with a couple of early long-range targets, but Sunderland finally found their range as Borini made the breakthrough in the 27th minute.

N’Zogbia delivered an inviting cross from the left, and after taking a touch to bring the ball under control on the right-hand side of the area, Borini drilled in a low half-volley that squirmed under Camp.

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N’Zogbia almost added a second goal himself shortly before the interval, forcing Camp into a smart save with a curled free-kick, before the Black Cats were finally tested in the final minute of the first half.

Kirk Broadfoot nodded a free-kick back across the face of goal, and Danny Ward stole ahead of Jordan Pickford to glance in a header that sailed narrowly over the crossbar.

Sunderland were vulnerable against crosses on a number of occasions last season, and their frailties were apparent again as Rotherham levelled within 18 seconds of the restart.

Jake Forster-Caskey crossed from the right, and while Yates displayed superb technique as he swivelled in the box before slotting past substitute goalkeeper Vito Mannone, the fact he was unchallenged as he did so was somewhat alarming.

Sunderland took their foot off the gas somewhat in the second half, with Rotherham enjoying much more possession in their opponents’ half, and Danny Ward almost fired the hosts into the lead when he curled in a well-judged effort that Mannone did well to cling on to.

However, the visitors claimed a winner with six minutes remaining as N’Zogbia provided another reminder of his enduring talents.

Receiving the ball from Josh Robson on the edge of the area, the Frenchman dispatched a crisp low finish into the bottom right-hand corner.

Rotherham (4-4-2): Camp; Kelly, Broadfoot, Wood, Mattock (Thorpe 36); Forde, Smallwood (Bailey-King 78), Halford (Forster-Caskey 40), Frecklington (Dawson 69); Ward, Yates.

Subs (not used): Price, Muskwe.

Sunderland (4-1-4-1): Pickford (Mannone 46); J Robson, Kone (E Robson 85), Kaboul (Ledger 78), van Aanholt; N’Zogbia; Lens (Greenwood 86), Rodwell, Borini (Watmore 56), Khazri (Gooch 65); Defoe (Honeyman 75).

Subs (not used): Stryjek (gk), T Robson, Asoro.