"My players played some decent football," he said.

"I thought my two centre-halves were outstanding, Nyron was great - a real warrior for us - and Danny Collins put in plenty of decent blocks, while my keeper made one or two good saves.

"Overall I thought we looked like a Premiership side - a few times we haven't this season but we were this time, especially defensively.

"We had good quality and that was pleasing because it wasn't just about working hard.

"I think Andy Reid has been getting sharper and sharper, which is great for us.

"I think at this level you really need to be able to handle a ball, especially in the middle of the park and he has that.

"He's been a big influence already but I think there will be more to come from him. He's getting fitter all the time, just like Kieran Richardson, who this time got a full 90 minutes under his belt.

"Let's keep it in perspective, we've won 1-0 away from home, it's nothing to get carried away about.

"I've got a decent group of players and it's never been all doom and gloom with them.

"It's not as if the away win has not looked as though it was coming because I can name half a dozen away games where we might have won but have been a bit unlucky.

"We always felt it was coming and I've got great belief in the players. They are a good solid unit and they are all focused."

Despite the fact that it was his side's first win on their travels, the manager felt they were good value for the threee points.

He said: "It was a good day for us and I thought we just about edged it.

"We rode our luck a little bit and made the most of our one good chance but I think it was a deserved win.

"You always worry in games and you know Villa are going to come at you second-half, especially when Martin O'Neill is making changes, but even though we played a dangerous game at times defensively we got away with it.

"Away from home you feel as though you've got a chance in every game but we've tended to be on the wrong end of 1--0 scorelines.

"You just do what you have to do though, which is keep sticking in there and looking to edge and against Villa we edged it.

"There's been plenty of games where we haven't done badly but just not managed to get over the finishing line.

At Villa we did get over the finishing line and it's a nice feeling. Nice for the players and for the fans who I hope will have enjoyed their journey back home this time.

"We've got another big game next weekend so it's always hard to tell, when you're in the middle of it how significant a victory is. Only time will tell.

"But I only got involved in football to win and we've lost too many matches this season.

"We had a tight game against Villa at our place and it was a tight one at their place but we were able to get past them this time. It's a nice feeling.

"Sunderland is a great club and that's why we're striving to keep it in the top flight.

"We know if we can stay in the Premiership then in the year coming after that and the year after that, we can look further forward.

"But we are all impatitent to get there. We all want results now and sometimes it doesn't happen.

"Even the best managers take times to build a club and that's my aim."