SIMON GRAYSON thinks his players have provided a glimpse of what the future could look like under his guidance after suggesting Sunderland have taken “a small step” in bringing brighter times back to the Stadium of Light.

The first match under his watch ended in a draw to open the Championship season when the Black Cats turned in a positive display that could quite easily have heralded three points.

And the mere fact Sunderland have at least shown resilience in his first game in charge after a difficult summer – including the distraction of Darron Gibson’s verbal bust-up with fans in a hotel last Saturday night - believes he has every reason to feel heartened; and so should the fans.

Grayson said: “I think hopefully we can look back and read more into this as the season goes. We want players who are willing to work for the shirt and be honest. We want fans to be proud of the players and they have shown that in abundance tonight.

“We said to the players they have the shirt, now go and make sure you have got it for a long time. If they play well they keep it. The fans will take to them if they keep it. Hopefully over the next few weeks we will have 20-odd players who supporters will take affiliation to.

“It is going to be a slow process, we know that. We have to take positive steps in everything we do. This is a small step. We go to Bury, Norwich and then Leeds, so we have to earn the rights and victories. It’s about those small steps.”

Sunderland, who are on the verge of completing the £5m sale of Jeremain Lens over the weekend, fell behind against Derby when Bradley Johnson converted at the back post inside 11 minutes.

It came at a time when Sunderland were on top and then, after the opener, they responded by pushing for an equaliser, eventually grabbing it when Lewis Grabban converted a penalty three minutes before the break.

Grayson said: “A point was the least we deserved, we were very good in many ways, started the game really well and had them on the back foot. It was disappointing that we conceded but we didn’t crumble.

“Previously teams here might have in previous years. But we asked questions of them in the final third. There is a lot of work to be done in restoring the confidence and they came away with conceding and didn’t crumble.

“People have questioned the desire and hunger of the club but you saw 11 players out there to challenge every ball and get a result. Testament to the supporters, they deserve a round of applause for seeing that.”

Grayson explained he made the pitch smaller because he feels he has the players suited to that, before then suggesting Lee Cattermole epitomised the whole team’s commitment over the 90 minutes against Derby.

He said: “You expect Lee to be a leader and to do that. He is one who is an example to others. It was spread right across the group. Whatever we do don’t have regrets when we come back in. If we make mistakes go and affect it again. We will play some better football as the season goes on.”

He added: “A lot has been made of the build up to the season. We are the first team in the shop window by playing on the first night, we are under scrutiny after what has happened this week, it is out of the way now and we have shown good character.

“I have kicked every ball, I am shattered. I have seen the players and they do get affected by disappointment. At times it felt it was a real full house and the players appreciate it. The more we go along the more fans we will get and the louder it will become. That’s what we want.”

Once Lens leaves, Grayson hopes it will help his own recruitment drive. He said: “I would think Jeremain is very close to completing his move to Besiktas. Nothing on incomings, plenty questions from us and calls from players who want to play for this club. We will look into it and cut our cloth accordingly.”