WHEN Will Grigg took over the responsibility of taking a penalty against Gillingham on Tuesday night, Sunderland manager Jack Ross almost did something he has never done before from the sidelines – not watched.

Even though Ross was always confident League One’s most expensive buy would eventually find the net because of his character, he was still well aware of the importance.

His coolly taken spot-kick was not only the first time he has found the net in a Sunderland shirt, it was also a goal that put Sunderland on the road to finally sealing a vital three points in the promotion race after starting a run of three consecutive home dates with two draws.

Grigg endured frustration in his first three appearances for Sunderland because he was unable to score, and on his third of those outings he missed a couple of gilt-edged chances as his new team stuttered to a draw with Accrington.

But the 27-year-old, renowned for scoring regularly in the third tier and he hit 65 in 150 games for Wigan, has not allowed anything to get to him and Ross was never worried.

The manager said: “He’s just the same, he is a good guy to work with and he has integrated into the group really well. It has been easy in that respect.

“He has a lot of self-belief, in a good way, not in an arrogant way. I didn’t notice one single thing different from him between post-Accrington and post-Gillingham – he has been exactly the same.

“Probably the encouraging thing for me is that he was playing well and helping us as a team. Just speaking to him, and players will tell you what you want to hear sometimes, but you can figure out usually if they mean it, he just kept saying he would score.

“He will score goals and he will miss chances but his pedigree proves that he can deal with that. The circumstances surrounding his first goal highlight the strength of character he has got.

“Even within the stadium, that build up when he got the ball, it felt like an age before he took it, and you can feel the tension in the stadium. You could feel something, whatever it was.”

Ross’ children have even been singing the ‘Will Grigg’s on Fire’ song when he has been at home since the goal, and he expects that to continue given his quality in and around the penalty area. He also feels satisfied the reports he received before signing him are a bonus.

The manager said: “From the moment he has set foot here, and this is a big club, the surroundings, and some people can walk in and can get a wee bit intimidated by it, even if there are others who think ‘great’ and embrace it.

“He is a relaxed guy, quite assured and that comes from being comfortable in his own skin and that shows in the games. He will continue to grow and get better as the season goes on.

“I knew plenty about him. You do your diligence on players, so we had Paul Walsh on my staff here who works with Northern Ireland, I spoke with David Weir who knows Will quite well too, I knew he could score goals but it was more about his character and how he was.

“Everyone I spoke to was really positive. You get five or six opinions and those who have worked with him reassured me.”

Ross nearly didn’t watch Grigg slot away the penalty.

He said: “I have never not watched a penalty, but I did have a half think about not watching that one. I said that to him after the game and I was pleased he scored it.”

“Penalties are psychological things, if you have any doubt then there is more chance you will miss it. The fact he wanted to take it said it all.”

Grigg is expected to start again at Bristol Rovers today, but the absence of Chris Maguire has freed up a hole.