Fourth goal gave Johnson heart for challenge ahead with Cats
The game may already have been all but won by the time Charlie Wyke scored Sunderland's fourth at Sincil Bank, but it was that strike that gave Lee Johnson the most satisfaction.
Afterwards, the Head Coach was full of praise for the way his new squad have adapted to his style, and it was that goal that summed it up best.
Tom Flanagan won possession before releasing Chris Maguire in the final third.
Maguire beat his marker and cut a good low cross into the path of Charlie Wyke, whose near-post run yielded a comfortable finish.
Getting bodies into the box and delivering from dangerous areas has been one of Johnson's key messages in the early stages of his Sunderland tenure, and he was heartened to see it produce a result so quickly.
Johnson has still only had three or four sessions to work with his players on the training pitch.
"They’re showing a good attitude," Johnson said.
"It’ s all very well me coming and going public with what I’m after, but if it doesn’t happen, then everybody questions it.
"I liked the fourth goal, that was my favourite goal.
"That was built off their understanding of what I’m after. Even if he’d missed it, we would have tucked it in at the far post with somebody else.
“It was a great bit of work from Chrissy where he cut across him.
"A good mate of mine is Ian Wright – he used to say that every time he said goodbye to the Arsenal lads, it was ‘I’ll see you on the near post’.
"If we know there are people there, not only can we deliver there, but we know it’s difficult to defend.
"Defenders can miss it or potentially score an own goal, and then we should also have somebody flooding in on that far post. It’s a good win.
"There were some nice things to see but we can’ t rest on our laurels. You know what football is like. A week is a long time as we’ve seen in a positive sense, but it can also come and hit you on the backside."
Johnson also offered an update on Josh Sc owen, who left the field midway through the second half.
Scowen has been a key player for Johnson in the early stages of his tenure, having played for him during his time in charge of Barnsley.
The Sunderland Head Coach is hopeful that the 27-year-old has not suffered a serious problem, and he will be assessed ahead of AFC Wimbledon' s visit to the Stadium of Light on Tuesday.
“I think he’ sbeenbrilliant, by the way," Johnson said.
"He’ s obviously known me from before, but I think he’s been excellent. I don’t know [how bad it is].
"He just felt some shooting pains on the muscle that goes up the side of the shin. Hopefully, it’s one of those where he’ll be in some pain for 24 hours and then it’ll start to ease off.
"He’s not sure whether it was a knock or a muscle injury. It seemed more like a knock, but we’ll have to wait and see."