Sunderland 2 Wigan Athletic 0: Roy Keane likens his Sunderland side to an improving learner driver with cause for cautious optimism about passing their test in May.

Since starting weekly lessons last August there have been moments of despair but, these days, the instructor is not looking quite so nervous and has reason to believe that clutch control could soon be perfected.

"It's a bit like driving lessons. We're getting more and more right and we now need to do all the good things at the same time to pass the test," explained Keane, whose hopes of avoiding relegation were boosted by a fourth consecutive home league win which leaves Sunderland four points clear of the drop zone and three ahead of Wigan.

Much as a novice motorist is prone to jarring gear-changes, Keane's team have struggled to control the tempo of games and seemed unsure when, or how, to slow things down. But on Saturday assistance arrived in the unlikely shape of Andy Reid.

When the decidedly tubby Republic of Ireland midfielder, recruited from Charlton Athletic for €5 million, stepped off the substitutes bench to begin warming up, he looked more like a member of the public who had won a competition to be part of Sunderland's match day squad than a Premier League footballer.

Appearances, though, can be deceptive, and with his first touch Reid controlled an awkward ball adroitly before spotting Daryl Murphy accelerating down the right wing and providing him with an inch-perfect crossfield pass.

All that remained was for Murphy to cut inside on his left foot and unleash a 25-yard shot which crashed in off the underside of the bar.

Having taken a first-half lead courtesy of Dickson Etuhu's header from Dean Whitehead's free-kick, Sunderland found themselves 2-0 ahead on a day when a combination of misses, the woodwork and some fine saves from Craig Gordon thwarted a sporadically menacing Wigan.

Steve Bruce's side were further frustrated by Reid, who used his experience and nous to retain possession and introduce team-mates to short passing triangles.

"The Premier League is fast and furious, but there's a time and a place to put your foot on the ball," explained Keane.

"Some players get sucked into the hustle and bustle, but the good ones know when to stand back. Andy put his foot on the ball, slowed things down and played some nice one-twos, which was exactly what we needed."

A keen guitarist and singer-songwriter, Reid frequently encouraged his former Tottenham Hotspur and then Charlton team-mates to engage in musical soirees.

Reid has brought his guitar to Wearside where the Sunderland manager trusts he will prove a relaxing influence off the pitch and an unlikely catalyst on it.

"Andy has something we haven't got," said Keane. "The standard Premier League midfielder is now 6ft or more tall and very strong. I can't make Andy 6ft 2in, but he's got quality and the rest is up to him. Let's not kid ourselves, you've got to be as fit as possible to play Premier League football."

Following a bright start with Nottingham Forest, fitness issues, battles with his weight and debilitating injuries stymied Reid's progress at Spurs, but he denies that less than über professionalism has undone him. "The stuff about lack of fitness comes from people who haven't worked with me and don't know what I'm all about," he said.

Bruce believed Wigan were undone by bad luck.

"We won 3-0 in the FA Cup here last month but we've played twice as well today and lost," he said.

• Guardian Service