Andy Reid delivered the killer blow in time added on to earn Sunderland a 2-1 win over West Ham United at the Stadium of Light.
It had looked like the hosts were going to have to make do with a point after Daryl Murphy wasted a gilt-edged chance in the dying moments.
But Reid, who has been a revelation since his arrival on Wearside, spared his team-mate's blushes and kept Sunderland on course for survival.
To be fair it was no more than Keane's men deserved having bossed virtually the whole second half and kept United under the cosh for long spells.
The Hammers though must have thought they had done enough to earn a share of the spoils in the face of adversity - having gone down to 10 men for the last five minutes when Freddie Ljungberg was stretchered off the field with a hamstring injury - the Londoners having already used all three of their substitutes.
But really they can have few complaints despite starting the game the brighter of the two sides.
The Hammers took the game to the hosts early on and were rewarded when Ljungberg latched onto Carlton Cole's flick and fired in from the edge of the area.
The ball appeared to take a deflection off Sunderland defender Nyron Nosworthy to leave keeper Craig Gordon wrong-footed.
The Black Cats refused to be bowed and were back on level terms when Kenwyne Jones put the finishing touch to a slick move.
A quick one-two between Reid and Dean Whitehead saw the former pass out wide to Kieran Richardson.
His cross got the slightest of touches off Murphy and Jones pushed in the leveller.
The goal gave the hosts a renewed belief and they took the game by the scruff of the neck.
Having finished the first half with a flourish, Sunderland continued to push on after the break but couldn't find the breakthrough they so desperately sought, although Danny Collins saw his header cleared off the line.
It seemed the chances had gone begging when Murphy missed the easiest opportunity of the game.
Jones beat substitute James Tomkins all ends up and squared to Murphy, but with the goal at his mercy, the Irishman blazed over.
With the game heading for a 1-1 draw, Carlos Edwards' ball from the right fell to Reid off the head of Anton Ferdinand and the Sunderland midfielder lashed a venomous strike into the net from ten yards out to seal what could be a vital victory.