English Championship: If the river Wear were more enticing it might have been busy on Saturday night. So often in the past few years Sunderland fans have left their ground in despair and felt like throwing themselves in.
But after this breathless, affirming, 2-1 victory those same punters would have been plunging joyously. Liam Miller's injury-time winner sparked an outbreak of smiling not seen in these parts for seasons.
Because of the deft touch Miller applied to Grant Leadbitter's inviting cross Sunderland are fourth in the Championship, three points off West Bromwich Albion, who are top. This Saturday the Baggies host the Black Cats at the Hawthorns. It is a lipsmacking prospect.
Also because of Miller's head Derby County are second, but only on goal difference and they have a game in hand. On Friday night they are at home to Colchester.
The effect of such a galvanising match is for people immediately to scrutinise tables and fixtures - so tight is it that, had Miller not scored, Sunderland would be eighth and Derby top.
Gloating has never been Roy Keane's style, but the Cork man must have been quietly exuberant at the sheer tenacity his evolving team are displaying.
"Both teams had chances. It was a great game for the neutral and it was nice to score a goal so late," said the former Manchester United captain.
Having lost two points at Birmingham last Tuesday through a 90th-minute equaliser from DJ Campbell, Sunderland were looking at another two going by the wayside after Giles Barnes's beauty on the hour.
In contrast to the first half the home goalkeeper, Darren Ward, was making fingertip saves and Tobias Hysen cleared from the Sunderland line. If there was going to be a winner it was Derby. But Sunderland buckled only once, when Barnes pirouetted past entranced defenders before spiking a low shot beyond Ward. "A top goal," said Keane.
That resolve enabled the Wearsiders to claw their way back into a meaty game. The substitute Daryl Murphy struck a post with 15 minutes left, Dwight Yorke broke through with five to go and was denied by Stephen Bywater's sharpness. The momentum of the first half - when David Connolly scored Sunderland's first penalty "for 65 years" according to Keane - was returning and was cemented by Miller.
- Guardian Service
SUNDERLAND: Ward, Simpson, Nosworthy, Evans, Collins, Edwards, Liam Miller, Yorke, Hysen (Leadbitter 69), John (Murphy 58), Connolly. Subs not used: Fulop, Tommy Miller, Varga. Booked: Connolly, Collins. Goals: Connolly 27 pen, Liam Miller 90.
DERBY: Bywater, Edworthy, Moore, Mears, McEveley, Teale (Barnes 46), Oakley, Pearson (Michael Johnson 83), Jones, Howard, Fagan (Peschisolido 71). Subs not used: Grant, Macken. Booked: McEveley, Edworthy. Goals: Barnes 59.
Referee: M Atkinson(W Yorkshire).
