Derby County's young guns went for it - and their reward was three priceless points after a Pride Park thriller.

Jim Smith's patched-up Rams moved further clear of the drop zone with Craig Burley - a relative veteran at 29 - grabbing the only goal of a breathless game after 42 minutes.

But it was really a story of shining youth, with two Rams debutants playing major roles in putting Champions League-chasing Sunderland to the sword.

None more so than 21-year-old goalkeeper Andy Oakes, starting for the first time due to a shoulder injury to regular number one Mart Poom.

Oakes dived low to his left with a minute to go and brilliantly turned Kevin Phillips' last-gasp effort around the post.

Oakes had been at the back of a colossal performance from the Rams rearguard, including fellow debutant Paul Boertien at left back, and which had been forced to introduce another youngster, Adam Murray, on the half-hour due to an injury to midfielder Darryl Powell.

For two passionate sides whose targets are clear this was never going to be an afternoon for lightweights.

And it was the Rams, making a mockery of the two sides' respective positions in the Premiership table, who tore at the visitors from the beginning.

As early as the third minute their top scorer Malcolm Christie was inches away from connecting with Deon Burton's cross from the right flank.

And although Taribo West - safely back from international duty to perform a sterling snuffing-out job on a Sunderland strikeforce missing the injured Niall Quinn - had to save Boertien's blushes with an early interception to deny Craddock a clear chance - the Rams kept command.

Argentinian Horacio Carbonari was the unluckiest man on the Pride Park pitch when his seventh minute free-kick from 25 yards hit the inside of Thomas Sorensen's right-hand post and flashed right across the gaping goal-line to safety.

As if the frantic early pace was not enough there was also the simmering feud between Darryl Powell and Alex Rae, a hangover from last season's stormy 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.

Their personal ceasefire lasted all of 10 minutes before Powell saw yellow for a foul on his opposite number but the feud was unable to develop as captain Powell had to leave the pitch later in the half after injuring himself in a head clash with Danny Dichio.

Phillips, looking lost without his usual striking foil who once again was laid low by a back injury, scooped a 24th minute shot wide but Derby responded in kind and Christie's goal-bound effort was blocked by Darren Williams.

Largely though the half belonged to Derby and Burley's strike three minutes from time was just reward for their tireless efforts.

Christie, the leader of the Rams' surprise assault, was an enforced substitution at half-time and with Sunderland enjoying their best spell immediately after the resumption their briefly threatened to turn the tide.

Phillips for once turned provider in the 52nd minute, finding Don Hutchison with a pin-point right-wing cross, but the big Scot tried to place the ball past Oakes and instead screwed it horribly wide of his target.

Burley then got back to clear off the line and the scrapping Rams weathered that particular assault, maintaining the game's constant breakneck speed by launching an assault of their own, Burley's inswinging corner almost finding O'Neil before the Scot should have made the game safe.

Throw into the melting pot an amazing performance from referee Knight, who at one stage booked four Rams players in three minutes - and a game which never once paused for breath was reaching an explosive and unpredictable conclusion.

Stefan Schwarz blazed hopelessly wide at one end while at the other Deon Burton raced clear but whacked his shot narrowly past the relieved Thomas Sorensen's right-hand post.

Teams:

Derby Oakes, Riggott, Carbonari, West, Delap (O'Neil 57), Eranio, Burley, Powell (Murray 34), Boertien, Burton, Christie (Morris 45).

Subs Not Used: Higginbotham, Grant.

Booked: Powell, Christie, Eranio, Morris, Burley, Carbonari, Riggott.

Goals: Burley 42.

Sunderland Sorensen, Williams, Varga, Craddock, Gray, Rae, Hutchison, McCann, Schwarz (Oster 82), Phillips, Dichio.

Subs Not Used: Ingham, Makin, Kilbane, Thirlwell.

Booked: Hutchison, Dichio, Phillips.

Att: 29,129

Ref: B Knight (Orpington).