Keane could only have been impressed as the Black Cats inflicted a first defeat of the campaign on West Brom with goals from skipper Dean Whitehead and Neill Collins.
Although Keane does not officially take over his duties until Tuesday, there was an immediate impact in Sunderland's formation with a switch to a five-man midfield, leaving Chris Brown to plough a lone furrow up front.
But there was no lack of attacking movement as Sunderland totally dominated the first half, with a single goal scant reward for their possession and chances created.
After surviving an early scare when goalkeeper Ben Alnwick scrambled a right wing cross behind for a corner, only poor finishing kept the Baggies on level terms.
Liam Lawrence fired over the bar and new signing Tobias Hysen was unlucky with a close-range effort that whistled just past the post, before Brown should have at least hit the target from close range in a hectic barrage on the West Brom goal.
Lawrence headed past the upright then shot straight at Pascal Zuberbuhler and Hysen's long-range effort flew over the bar, but the best chance fell to Stephen Elliott in the 31st minute.
The Republic of Ireland international raced clear only to be denied by the outstretched leg of Zuberbuhler, but two minutes later Sunderland deservedly went ahead.
But the breakthrough needed an alert referee's assistant to rule that Whitehead's in-swinging corner from the left had crossed the line despite the efforts of full-back Paul Robinson to head clear.
Stephen Elliott again failed to take advantage of another great opportunity in the next minute, his snap-shot lifting over the bar.
Former Sunderland favourite Kevin Phillips, who preferred a move from Aston Villa to the Baggies instead of returning to the Stadium of Light, replaced a subdued Nathan Ellington at the start of the second half, but within a minute the hosts went further ahead.
Brown was hauled down when making his way along the byline, and from Hysen's free-kick, Neill Collins scored his first league goal for the club with a thumping close-range header.
With John Hartson making no impact and Phillips only a shadow of the player who scored 130 goals for Sunderland, there was simply no way back for the Championship favourites.