Phillips sinks Ipswich

Phillips makes no mistake from the penalty spot

Sunderland 1-0 Ipswich

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Sunderland got their Premiership campaign off to an excellent start with a deserved win over Ipswich.

All I can say is that Kevin is on fire because he was magnificent and his performance was straight out of the top drawer

Sunderland manager Peter Reid

Kevin Phillips scored from the penalty spot to give the Black Cats the lead which they managed to preserve for the remainder of the game.

Peter Reid's men ran out deserved winners against an Ipswich side who, despite a late rally, failed to get a grip on the game.

Sunderland made a bright start in the Stadium of Light and Phillips gave an early glimpse of his intent to get on the scoresheet.

Summer signing Lilian Laslandes got a good early touch to release Phillips but he dragged his shot wide.

Ipswich's Bramble gets away from Quinn

Ipswich, keen to show that last season's exploits were not a fluke, made a tentative start, allowing the home side to stamp their authority on proceedings.

Phillips - looking a yard sharper than last season - was again at the fore of Sunderland's attacks.

He set off on a mazy run and picked out Julio Arca but his effort was easily saved by Ipswich's new keeper Matteo Sereni.

Sunderland's early pressure was worthy of a goal and they should have taken the lead after 20 minutes.

It was a soft penalty and in the end it cost us the game and I was disappointed with the way we played in the first 45 minutes - but we were much better in the second half.

Ipswich manager George Burley

Arca swung in a free-kick from the edge of the area and the impressive Laslandes lost his marker but steered his header wide of the target.

Ipswich's other debutant Finidi George found it more difficult to get into the game and wasted one of his team's few clear chances, heading straight into the arms of keeper Thomas Sorensen.

Impressive Arca

Sunderland finally opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 38 minutes, after Titus Bramble had bundled over Gavin McCann.

Phillips made no mistake, sending Sereni the wrong way.

George Burley's half-time team-talk failed to inspire an Ipswich comeback.

They East Anglian side probed but ultimately failed to penetrate.

A buoyant Sunderland side were spurred on by the slick Phillips-Laslandes partnership.

And the Argentine Arca was also involved in some excellent one-touch football.

Sereni went some way to repaying his £5m price tag by making a fine save to deny Phillips his second of the afternoon.

Sunderland's Kevin Kilbane, who had been largely anonymous in the first half, produced some teasing crosses but none of his team-mates could provide the finishing touch to extend their slim lead.

Ipswich mounted a late charge in search of the equaliser but some fine goalkeeping by Sorensen kept the visitors at bay to earn Sunderland all three points.

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Sunderland: Sorensen, Haas, Gray, Craddock, Thome, Arca, Kilbane, Schwarz, McCann, Phillips, Laslandes. Subs: Macho, Quinn, McCartney, Rae, Bellion.

Ipswich: Sereni, Makin, Hreidarsson, McGreal, Bramble, Magilton, Holland, George, Reuser, Stewart, Wright. Subs: Branagan, Naylor, Clapham, Counago, Wilnis.

Referee: G Poll (Tring).