PERHAPS the biggest compliment that can be paid to Simon Grayson is that it has taken him just two months to construct a proper Championship team.

That might seem like damning the Sunderland manager with faint praise given that Sunderland were in the Premier League as recently as May, but it is not meant to.

When he agreed to succeed David Moyes, Grayson inherited a rag-tag assortment of miscreants and mercenaries, not to mention a £110m debt. Some of the want-aways, like much of the debt, remain, but despite the countless obstacles that have been placed in his way, Grayson has successfully fashioned a side that looks more than capable of holding its own in the second tier. After today, he’s even managed to guide Sunderland to a league victory in August for the first time since 2010.

That victory came courtesy of qualities that have not been in Sunderland’s lexicon for quite some time. Resilience, for example, replaced raggedness. Instead of capitulation, it was possible to discern commitment in each and every player in the red-and-white ranks. And rather than disorganisation coming to the fore as Norwich attempted to stage a grandstand finish, the Black Cats displayed discipline to claim a first Championship victory since the promotion party at Luton under Roy Keane.

It is far too premature to be predicting similar scenes next May, but at least Grayson has enabled Sunderland supporters to dream again, and enjoy the unfamiliar feeling of experiencing pride in their team. If nothing else, this is a group of players who feel a palpable sense of honour to wear the shirt.

They had to dig deep at times as Norwich dominated possession for long periods, but their determination to see things through was apparent throughout. It coursed through Lamine Kone and Ty Browning, whose partnership in central defence was the bedrock of Sunderland’s victory, and was also apparent in the tireless running of Didier Ndong, who has shown no signs of petulance or unprofessionalism despite being a £13m player playing in the Championship.

Ndong and Kone looked a class apart all afternoon, and holding on to the duo beyond the end of the month could be Grayson’s biggest achievement. It could certainly be a key determinant in the outcome of Sunderland’s season.

The effectiveness of the forward line will also be a hugely important factor, and prior to today’s game, the biggest fear was that Sunderland’s attack lacked teeth. One swallow does not make a summer, but the way in which Lewis Grabban, James Vaughan and Aiden McGeady combined at Carrow Road certainly augurs well for the weeks and months ahead.

Grabban’s double – the striker actually completed a bizarre hat-trick by also putting the ball into his own net – makes him the joint-highest scorer in the Championship given that he also scored against Derby on the opening weekend of the season. For all that his career has dipped in recent years, it is worth remembering that he once scored 22 Championship goals in a season with Bournemouth.

McGeady opened his Sunderland account with an excellent second-half strike, and also delivered a fine whipped cross for Grabban’s second goal. In a side that has been fashioned to be solid, the Irishman is capable of providing a flash of true class. Little wonder Grayson was so desperate to sign him, having benefited from his qualities at Preston last season.

By the end of the afternoon, McGeady was causing problems at every turn, but Sunderland’s dominance was built on their successful dampening of Norwich’s strong start.

Kone was the key to their defensive efforts, with his leadership qualities enabling him to hold together an otherwise inexperienced backline.

Cameron Jerome is a canny Championship operator, and there were times during the first half when the former Sunderland transfer target looked certain to unlock the Black Cats defence.

Receiving the ball with his back to goal, Jerome tried to thread a succession of through balls into the Sunderland area, but with Kone marshalling Browning alongside him, the visitors held firm.

Jason Steele produced a smart first-half save to deny Russel Martin after the defender played a slick one-two with Marley Watkins, and Jerome, who had a first-half effort rightly ruled out for offside, headed James Maddison’s free-kick over the crossbar. On the whole, though, Sunderland’s goal was remarkably untroubled given the extent of Norwich’s early dominance of possession.

The key question was whether Sunderland could ally a cutting edge to their solidity and organisation. The answer arrived shortly before the half-hour mark.

Grabban had already come close in the 16th minute, shooting into the side-netting after Vaughan released him into the area, and the former Norwich striker did not need a second invitation when the pair combined again 11 minutes later.

It was a classic route-one goal, with Vaughan flicking on Steele’s long clearance, and Grabban galloping clear before slotting a clinical finish past Angus Gunn. Vaughan might not have opened his Sunderland account yet following a £500,000 move from Bury, but his aerial ability has already had an effect. Keen to run the channels and unsettle even the most physical of centre-halves, his relationship with Grabban is blossoming.

Sunderland’s second goal, which came on the hour mark, was all about McGeady, with the winger picking up the ball from Lee Cattermole close to the edge of the area before curling a superb left-footed strike into the right-hand corner.

McGeady turned provider 11 minutes later, twisting and turning on the left-hand side before curling an inviting cross into the middle. Grabban pulled off his marker at the back post, and calmly headed home from close range.

The Bournemouth loanee scored at the other end with 12 minutes left, hooking the ball into his own net under pressure after Marcel Franke headed the ball back across goal, and Martin caused a flurry of nerves when he drilled against the post in the closing stages.

Sunderland held firm though, and were able to celebrate a deserved success. After a fraught few months, their recovery is up and running.