CATS GET AN EXTRA LIFE!

SUNDERLAND cashed in on a defensive horror show from Derby to give their Championship survival hopes a massive shot in the arm.

Goals from Ashley Fletcher, Aiden McGeady and John O’Shea, added to a Craig Forsyth own goal, moved the Black Cats off the foot of the table.

Forsyth’s woeful header and poor tackle to concede a penalty, plus a Richard Keogh howler, extended promotion-chasing Rams’ winless run to eight games.

Gary Rowett’s side are now battling to cling on to a play-off place while Sunderland are just three points from safety after ending their own 10-game winless run.

There was a second-minute scare for the Rams when goalkeeper Scott Carson hammered an intended clearance against Fletcher and the rebound flashed wide.

Derby made the early running and in the seventh minute Andreas Weimann went close with a first-time shot at the far post from a Forsyth cross.

But they were stunned when George Honeyman put the Black Cats ahead with the accidental help of Forsyth.

Carson had forced a Paddy McNair shot out for a 10th-minute corner which was cleared to Honeyman, whose 20-yard shot flew in off the head of Forsyth.

And the lead was doubled nine minutes from half-time when Keogh’s horrible mistake cost his side dear.

Under no pressure, he passed straight to Fletcher, who charged past Curtis Davies and beat Carson with a powerful, low shot.

The Black Cats pushed for a third and Lynden Gooch was inches away from turning home a Fletcher cross.

But Matej Vydra gave Derby hope before the break with a superb volley into the top corner to make it 2-1.

Fletcher should have restored Sunderland’s two-goal cushion but he scuffed a shot badly from a McGeady cross.

But they grabbed a third goal just five minutes into the second-half when Forsyth clumsily fouled Gooch and McGeady rolled home the penalty.

McGeady then fired just wide before Fletcher struck the post from distance and McNair also headed against the woodwork.

After Vydra had fired over for Derby, Sunderland made sure of their win as O’Shea forced home in a goalmouth scramble with 14 minutes left.