Sunderland 3-0 Rotherham United: Blacks Cats give Tony Mowbray victory in first game
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Ross Stewart (second right) has scored five goals in the Championship this season
Tony Mowbray made a wining start to life as Sunderland boss as his new charges ended Rotherham's unbeaten start to the season.
The Black Cats appointed Mowbray as Alex Neil's replacement on Tuesday after the Scot left to take over at Stoke on Sunday.
Ross Stewart scored his first with a cool finish from Jack Clarke's low cross and the pair then linked up again for Stewart's second.
The impressive Clarke then rounded off the win with a wonderful solo goal, as he weaved past a couple of Millers defenders and then fired a low shot into the bottom corner.
A first home victory of the season for Sunderland saw them move up to eighth in the table, three points behind early leaders Sheffield United.
The Wearsiders had finished three places below Rotherham in League One last season as they won promotion through the play-offs under previous boss Neil.
It was the home side who had the best opportunity of an even first half but Stewart was unable to convert when well placed.
The Scotland international made no mistake with a neat finish from Clarke's left-wing cross after the break and repeated the trick 13 minutes later when former Leeds and Tottenham winger Clarke sent in another eye-catching ball with the outside of the boot.
Clarke then scored the pick of the bunch with a crisp finish after a quality run as the Millers fell to a first league defeat of the campaign.
Three points capped off an uplifting day for Sunderland, who also announced the signings of Manchester United forward Amad Diallo and France youth midfielders Edouard Michut and Abdoullah Ba.
They face a derby against Mowbray's former side Middlesbrough on Monday, while Paul Warne's Millers are back in action on Saturday with a home game against Watford.
Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray:
"A whirlwind is a good word for it. An opportunity arose and I'm proud to be given an opportunity to manage a club in an environment like this.
"Everyone knows what an amazing club this is. This team has a lot of talent and we have to let it flourish.
"I didn't do much tonight, it was down to the coaches who have worked with the team for the last few weeks. I talked to the players little bits, told them what I like in games. A lot of credit goes to the coaches working with the team.
"When you come to stadiums like this you get a fanbase and your stomach feels for the fans really, you want your team to score, whizz it across goal, so the fans can have a good night."
Rotherham manager Paul Warne:
"It wasn't what I wanted. Firstly, congratulations to Tony, nice to have him back in football.
"It's difficult when you come and face a team with a new manager, but Sunderland have been playing well anyway. I knew it would be a tough place without a new manager getting the place bouncing.
"The first half we weathered a storm, created a few chances, and on another day we might have nicked a goal.
"Second half they played the game we wanted to play, they had one-on-ones, their attacking players had a good night, with balls in the box we didn't defend. The scoreline could have been greater. I have no complaints about the result."