Stephen Elliott and Dean Whitehead struck second half goals to secure
Sunderland a much-needed 2-0 victory at Derby and reignite their bid for automatic
promotion.
After collecting just four points from their previous four matches, the win
allowed Mick McCarthy's side to reassert their promotion credentials and ensure
Ipswich and Wigan remain within striking distance.
Defeat for Sunderland would have raised the prospect of a two-horse race
emerging, but instead the victory breathed new life into the Black Cats' hopes
of returning to the Premiership and avoiding the lottery of the play-offs.
The defeat for Derby, meanwhile, put a serious dent in their own promotion
ambitions but they could consider themselves unfortunate not to have seen their
impressive approach play rewarded with a goal, particularly as they were
controversially denied a penalty.
Ultimately, however, Sunderland proved capable of soaking up first-half
pressure and two quickfire goals in a 15-minute spell after the restart allowed
them to secure the points.
Derby had been boosted by the return of fit-again Grzegorz Rasiak, who
replaced Marcus Tudgay in attack, while Michael Johnson and Jeff Kenna came in
for Ian Taylor and Paul Boertien respectively.
Sunderland also made three changes, with Danny Collins replacing calf
injury-victim Stephen Caldwell to line up alongside namesake Neill Collins at
the heart of the Black Cats' defence.
Midfielder Jeff Whitley returned from suspension to replace Sean Thornton
while fit-again Argentine winger Julia Arca dislodged Andy Welsh on the left
flank.
Derby began brightly and when Rasiak headed dangerously across the face of
goal from Inigo Idiakez's corner, Sunderland were forced to clear.
Tommy Smith then scampered down the right flank before delivering a dangerous
low cross into the visitors' box which Danny Collins hacked clear for a corner.
Elliott then served notice of his threat when he collected a pass from
Whitehead on the edge of the box before curling narrowly wide of the far post.
Derby remained dangerous, however, and when another Idiakez corner was cleared
to the edge of the visitors' box, Bisgaard was unlucky to see his vicious
20-yard volley dip narrowly over the bar.
Whitley fired over from a similar distance but Derby continued to press and
nine minutes before the restart, they were controversially denied claims for a
penalty.
Hesitancy between Myrhe and George McCartney allowed Bisgaard to deflect the
ball back across the face of goal and when Rasiak attempted to make connect with
the ball, he ended up in a heap following a challenge from Danny Collins.
But referee Phil Crossley waved away the home appeals and six minutes after
the restart, the visitors took full advantage of their first-half let-off by
snatching the lead.
The previously ineffective Marcus Stewart collected the ball on the left flank
and sent over a dangerous low cross which Arca connected with from just six
yards.
Camp did well to parry the Argentine's close-range effort, but Elliott was on
hand to bundle the ball home in typically predatory style from barely a yard out
to register his 11th goal of the season.
Suitably inspired, Sunderland continued to press and 15 minutes later Elliott
had a massive hand in helping his side to secure victory.
The livewire striker raced to the byline before crossing low for the onrushing
Whitehead to fire the ball goalwards.
The ball hit Johnson but the Derby defender's attempted block rebounded back
off Whitehead and into the net.
Sunderland then remained content to soak up the pressure and Derby could not
find the invention required to break down the visitors.
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