Sunderland raise hopes as Rowett rips into Derby
Derby’s crumbling promotion campaign took another turn in the wrong direction as a shock win for relegation favourites Sunderland left Gary Rowett’s side eight matches without a win.
Derby were in the second automatic promotion place at the beginning of the year, but have won only two league matches from 13 in 2018.
There are echoes of Derby’s collapse under Steve Mcclaren in 2015 in the way their season is unravelling. Where they were seven points clear of seventh place in January, they are now clinging to a top-six position only on goal difference.
Rowett said he was embarrassed with the performance, which he described as the poorest he had watched in six years as a manager.
“I didn’t think there was a psychological problem but now I have to say maybe there is,” he said. “I’ve been the first one to criticise people who suggest we haven’t got the bottle when the chips are down, but I’m questioning it myself tonight.”
In driving rain, Derby were the architects of their own misfortune as Sunderland claimed a first win in 11 matches to climb off the bottom. George Honeyman’s 25-yard shot was headed into his own net by fullback Craig Forsyth and a woefully careless pass by Richard Keogh allowed Ashley Fletcher to score.
Derby responded before halftime as Matej Vydra volleyed in his 19th goal of the season yet, four minutes into the second half, came another self-inflicted wound.
Forsyth compounded his bad night by bringing down Lynden Gooch inside the penalty area, enabling Aiden Mcgeady to restore Sunderland’s two-goal cushion.
John O’shea completed Derby’s miserable night, stabbing home his first goal in four years.
Sunderland manager Chris Coleman described his side’s display as “superb” but warned it must not be a one-off. “We have given ourselves a chance, but we have to follow it up against Barnsley on Monday,” he said.