Cats leave it late but clinch vital victory

Roy Keane made five changes to the side that lost at Goodison Park, the biggest surprise being the decision to drop £9m goalkeeper Craig Gordon and bring in last season's number one Darren Ward instead.

Gordon was not culpable for the goals against Everton, but nevertheless Keane's change paid dividends as Ward kept Sunderland's first clean sheet since the opening day of the season.

Sunderland created plenty of chances in the first period but veteran striker Andy Cole - lively on his home debut - was off-target on three occasions.

Derby could easily have capitalised and taken the lead just before half-time had Ward not made a stunning save from Kenny Miller, tipping the Scotland striker's low drive onto the outside of the left-hand post, following a slip by Danny Higginbotham.

And then a couple of minutes later Sunderland skipper Dean Whitehead had to clear a shot from Steve Howard off the line.

Sunderland should still have gone in at the interval ahead, however, after Derby keeper Stephen Bywater couldn't hold a Grant Leadbitter shot and Kenwyne Jones followed up _ only to hit the right-hand post from six yards out.

In the second half, Bywater had to be alert to push a glancing header from his teammate Dean Leacock out for a corner when it seemed destined for the bottom left-hand corner.

But Sunderland finally made the breakthrough two minutes into injury-time when sub Liam Miller crossed from the right side of the box, Bywater did brilliantly to keep out Jones' close-range header but Stokes followed-up and forced the ball home at the second attempt.

It was Stokes' first Premier League goal and what an important one it could turn out to be as Sunderland look to gain a foothold in the top flight.

SUNDERLAND: Ward, Halford, Collins, McShane, Higginbotham, Whitehead, Leadbitter (Miller 83), Edwards (Stokes 78), Wallace, Jones, Cole (Chopra 64). Subs not used: Gordon, Harte

DERBY COUNTY: Bywater, Griffin, McEveley, Moore, Davis, Oakley, Pearson, Teale (Leacock 84), Barnes (Fagan 71), Howard, Miller (Earnshaw 86). Subs not used: Price, Mears

REF: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

ATTENDANCE: 42,380

BOOKINGS: McEveley (Derby)