Republic of Ireland international Niall Quinn ended Sunderland's six-game Premiership run without a win when he snatched a priceless winner ten minutes from time against Derby County at Pride Park.
Derby, responding to the touchline encouragement from new manager John Gregory were unlucky not to have taken the lead on the hour when Argentinean Luciano Zavagno hit the cross bar and Claudio Reyna cleared a follow up shot from striker Malcolm Christie off the line.
But Sunderland, who had been twice denied in the first half when stand-in keeper Andy Oakes made one-handed saves from Kevin Phillips and Quinn, fought their way back into the game.
A minute after United States skipper Reyna had a goal disallowed for pushing, a left wing centre from captain Michael Gray was deflected by Phillips into the path of Quinn, who calmly side footed the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box to give Peter Reid's men their first victory of 2002.
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