Sunderland boss Roy Keane hailed his side's never-say-die spirit after Michael Chopra struck deep into injury-time to get the Irishman's career as a Premier League boss off to a flying start through 1-0 win over Tottenham.
Summer signing Chopra twisted to strike a low shot past a diving Paul Robinson with his side's last touch of the match to send the Stadium of Light crowd wild.
Keane declared that Chopra's goal was a reward for his side's tireless efforts at a time when many of its rivals may have settled for starting their season without defeat.
Keane said: "We had plenty of late goals last season and I keep telling people it is not down to luck. We have the desire to keep going when other clubs might settle for a draw."
"It might cost us in other games but we had that desire to keep going. I am delighted for the players and I think we deserved the victory."
Former Newcastle man Chopra hit the net twice in a Cardiff shirt when the Welshmen visited the Stadium of Light last season and Keane said he had no qualms about bringing him back to the north-east.
The home side's desire to make Keane's top-flight bow one to remember had already been evident after Dickson Etuhu forced a diving save out of Robinson in the final minute of normal time.
Robinson had also denied Daryl Murphy with a first half save while in contrast Britain's most expensive goalkeeper Craig Gordon enjoyed the gentlest of introductions at the other end.
Spurs boss Martin Jol left Darren Bent on the bench and kept faith in Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov up front, but afterwards he admitted his strikeforce had let him down.
Berbatov had been successfully shackled from the start by Sunderland's central defensive partnership of Nyron Nosworthy and Paul McShane as the home side started confidently.
But it was not until the 25th minute when either side managed their first shot on target with Robbie Keane hitting a low shot which Gordon easily gathered.
The game finally sprang into life in the final seven minutes of the first half, first when Murphy found himself clear on the right side of the box but shot straight at the advancing Robinson.
Moments later Berbatov finally sprang the home offside trap to advance into the box where he fell under McShane's challenge and saw penalty appeals waved away.
Straight up at the other end, Edwards played in Etuhu who swept a confident effort from just outside the box that flashed inches wide.
Many sides may have rued those missed opportunities to get their top-flight campaign off to a flyer. But Keane's well-drilled outfit are evidently made of sterner stuff.
English Premiership
Sunderland 1 (Chopra 90)
Tottenham 0