Sunderland secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Derby County in a tense encounter at Pride Park, with Eliezer Mayenda scoring the decisive goal in the first half. The win marks a crucial moment for Sunderland, who had been winless in their last three away games. Despite Derby's persistent efforts, including a flurry of corners and a controversial disallowed goal, Sunderland's defense held firm, aided by goalkeeper Anthony Patterson's several key saves. The victory propels Sunderland within two points of the automatic promotion places, providing a much-needed boost to their campaign.
The match began with Sunderland showing dominance in the first half. Eliezer Mayenda capitalized on an opportunity, finding the back of the net to give Sunderland an early lead. The team maintained their advantage throughout the half, heading into the break with a 1-0 lead. However, Derby was determined to turn the tide in the second half.
Derby's Wilson Isidor appeared to have leveled the score in the second half, but the goal was ruled out due to a late whistle from referee Sam Allison. This decision sparked controversy, leaving many puzzled by the delay in disallowing the goal. Sunderland's manager, Regis Le Bris, acknowledged the unusual nature of the decision but was ultimately grateful for the outcome.
"The thing I thought was strange was the time from it going in to being disallowed, I thought it was lengthy. No time during that did I think it was going to be disallowed. I've never seen it before, I don't know why it was disallowed and am grateful for a bit of luck." – Paul Warne
Despite Derby's relentless push in the latter stages of the match, Sunderland's defense remained resolute. Goalkeeper Anthony Patterson's performance was instrumental in preserving the clean sheet, as he thwarted several promising attempts from Derby's attackers. Notably, Enzo Le Fee for Derby created significant chances for his teammates and saw a well-placed free-kick saved by Patterson.
Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham also delivered an impressive performance, creating opportunities and keeping the Derby defense on their toes. This strong showing from Sunderland's players drew praise from their manager, Regis Le Bris.
"It's a big win, important win for our journey I think. It was a tough game, we had the opportunity to score a second goal, we didn't. It was difficult to press and apply pressure on their first ball." – Regis Le Bris
For Derby, the loss compounds their recent struggles, marking their fifth consecutive defeat. Manager Paul Warne expressed his disappointment with the result but acknowledged the competitive nature of the match.
"It's so difficult to judge [the disallowed goal]. It's a little bit strange. I didn't speak with the referees at the end of the game, I just watched a clip back – it's difficult to judge." – Regis Le Bris
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