Derby County 1-4 Sunderland

Ashley Fletcher's goal was his first for Sunderland since joining on loan from Middlesbrough in January

Sunderland exploited defensive errors by Derby to win at Pride Park and move off the bottom of the Championship.

George Honeyman's shot deflected in off Craig Forsyth for the opener, before Ashley Fletcher pounced on a loose Richard Keogh pass to make it 2-0.

Matej Vydra's half-volleyed finish reduced the deficit before half-time.

But Aiden McGeady's penalty restored the two-goal lead after Forsyth fouled Lynden Gooch, and John O'Shea poked in a fourth after a goalmouth scramble.

The veteran defender's first club goal for more than four years helped Sunderland move within three points of safety with seven matches remaining.

• Relive Friday's Championship action

It was only the second victory of 2018 for Chris Coleman's side, a result which ended a winless run of 10 games and took them above Burton, who lost to Cardiff earlier on Friday.

Fifth-placed Derby have now gone eight games without a win and, having been second in the Championship at the start of February, they are only inside the top six on goal difference.

They have a game in hand on many of their nearest challengers, but their dip in form and the manner of their defeat by the Black Cats will be of huge concern.

All four Sunderland goals were avoidable and the visitors could had more, but Fletcher and Paddy McNair hit the post and bar respectively.

Derby County boss Gary Rowett:

"Probably in six years of management that's been the worst 90 minutes I've had to sit and watch. I'm not going to discredit Sunderland in any way but all four goals were self-inflicted.

"I've asked the fans to get behind the players all week and I thought they did that but if I'm being honest the players didn't deserve it. I said to them I've got no problem being honest with what I think the game was but what I think some of the players need to do is be honest with themselves.

"I'll be the first one to criticise the people that suggest we haven't got the bottle when the chips are down but after tonight I'm questioning that myself."

Sunderland manager Chris Coleman:

"It was a superb performance and very important because of where we've been in the last nine or 10 games which haven't been good enough.

"So the performance was huge for us. Now Monday is a big test for us because we play with fear at home and we've got to get over that. We haven't won back-to-back games all season so it's a big challenge for us and a big opportunity.

"We are running out of opportunities but we've given ourselves a chance and we've got to capitalise on that."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Derby

• 1Carson
• 12Baird
• 6Keogh
• 33Davies
• 3Forsyth
• 34ThorneSubstituted forNugentat 58'minutes
• 15JohnsonBooked at 90mins
• 19Weimann
• 23VydraBooked at 84mins
• 10LawrenceSubstituted forPalmerat 45'minutes
• 32JeromeSubstituted forLedleyat 83'minutes

Substitutes

• 7Palmer
• 14Wisdom
• 16Pearce
• 21Roos
• 28Nugent
• 36Ledley
• 45Thomas

Sunderland

• 12Camp
• 22LoveBooked at 63mins
• 23KonéBooked at 59mins
• 16O'SheaBooked at 72mins
• 3OviedoSubstituted forMatthewsat 81'minutes
• 6CattermoleBooked at 67mins
• 27GoochSubstituted forMajaat 90+1'minutes
• 4McNairSubstituted forWilsonat 78'minutes
• 26Honeyman
• 19McGeady
• 9Fletcher

Substitutes

• 1Steele
• 11Lua Lua
• 13McManaman
• 20Maja
• 21Matthews
• 28Robson
• 36Wilson

Referee:

James Linington

Attendance:

27,890

Match Stats

Home TeamDerbyAway TeamSunderland

Possession

Home61%

Away39%

Shots

Home7

Away14

Shots on Target

Home1

Away6

Corners

Home3

Away7

Fouls

Home18

Away16

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Derby County 1, Sunderland 4.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Derby County 1, Sunderland 4.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Andreas Weimann (Derby County).

Posted at 90'+3'

Adam Matthews (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Booking

Posted at 90'+2'

Bradley Johnson (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Bradley Johnson (Derby County).

Posted at 90'+2'

Josh Maja (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Posted at 90'+1'

Substitution, Sunderland. Josh Maja replaces Lynden Gooch because of an injury.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Craig Forsyth (Derby County).

Posted at 88'

Lynden Gooch (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Bradley Johnson (Derby County).

Posted at 88'

Marc Wilson (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 87'

Offside, Derby County. Richard Keogh tries a through ball, but David Nugent is caught offside.

Booking

Posted at 84'

Matej Vydra (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Matej Vydra (Derby County).

Posted at 84'

Aiden McGeady (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 83'

Substitution, Derby County. Joe Ledley replaces Cameron Jerome.

Posted at 83'

Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Marc Wilson.

Posted at 83'

Attempt blocked. Bradley Johnson (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Andreas Weimann.

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, Sunderland. Adam Matthews replaces Bryan Oviedo.

Posted at 78'

Foul by Cameron Jerome (Derby County).

Posted at 78'

Aiden McGeady (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 78'

Substitution, Sunderland. Marc Wilson replaces Paddy McNair.

Goal!

Posted at 76'

Goal! Derby County 1, Sunderland 4. John O'Shea (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal following a corner.

Posted at 76'

Attempt missed. Lamine Koné (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Paddy McNair following a corner.

Posted at 76'

Attempt missed. Paddy McNair (Sunderland) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Aiden McGeady with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 76'

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Curtis Davies.

Posted at 75'

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Curtis Davies.

Booking

Posted at 72'

John O'Shea (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 72'

Cameron Jerome (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 72'

Foul by John O'Shea (Sunderland).

Posted at 71'

Attempt missed. Matej Vydra (Derby County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Cameron Jerome with a cross.

Posted at 70'

Paddy McNair (Sunderland) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Aiden McGeady with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 70'

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Richard Keogh.

Posted at 69'

Curtis Davies (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Lynden Gooch (Sunderland).

Posted at 67'

Attempt missed. Matej Vydra (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is too high following a set piece situation.

Booking

Posted at 67'

Lee Cattermole (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 67'

Kasey Palmer (Derby County) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 67'

Foul by Lee Cattermole (Sunderland).

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