CarlingNet - No 1 for Match Reports

Derby v Sunderland 14/09/96 3.00

Derby                   (0) 1 Sunderland              (0) 0 FT
Asanovic 84 (pen)

Croatian midfielder Aljosa Asanovic ended brave ten-man Sunderland's resistance by stroking home a penalty six minutes from time to secure Derby's second successive Premiership victory.

The Rams, who opened their winning account in their first season back in the top flight at Blackburn on Monday, were always in control of this clash between the two sides automatically promoted from division one last season.

But despite having a host of chances, they needed Asanovic's spot-kick to break the deadlock following a virtuoso display by veteran goalkeeper Tony Coton.

The keeper's heroics saved Sunderland from a drubbing as Derby pressed forward in search of goals after visiting defender Richard Ord had been sent off mid-way through the first half.

Ord had just been booked for denying Derby a quick free-kick and, when he protested about the decision, referee David Elleray produced a red card.

And it quickly became clear that Peter Reid's side had an uphill task on their hands if they were to get anything out of the game as Asanovic - outstanding in the centre of the park for Derby - set about unlocking the door.

Derby had all the best early chances and could twice have taken the lead inside the opening five minutes.

Both opportunities came from the right wing, where Dane Jacob Laursen was seeing plenty of the ball, and in the third minute his teasing cross just eluded striker Marco Gabbiadini at the far post.

Two minutes later, the Dane's long throw was nodded on by Gabbiadini to Christian Dailly, but the former Dundee United man could only send his header over the bar.

Asanovic tested Coton with a curling left-foot free kick which the keeper held, and went even closer when he struck the crossbar from similar range five minutes before the break.

From early in the second half, Sunderland looked content to settle for a draw and sat back as Derby sought to make their numerical advantage count.

Coton was forced into a string of magnificent saves from Asanovic, Gabbiadini and Laursen as the Rokermen clung grimly to their hopes of a point.

But those hopes evaporated after 84 minutes when Gareth Hall, playing his first game of the season at right-back, brought down Asanovic close to the by-line and referee Elleray pointed to the spot.

The Croatian Euro 96 star stepped up himself to send Coton the wrong way and fire Derby above their opponents in the Premiership table.