FINALLY a performance to cherish for everyone connected with Sunderland after an incredible night at Pride Park.

Now the question on everyone’s lips is, Sunderland can’t stay up, can they?

A repeat Bank Holiday Monday performance of this one that earned a spirited and potentially season-turning 4-1 victory against Derby County and even the most negative supporter might have to start dreaming.

This was a truly Good Friday, in fact it was a great one for Chris Coleman and his players. The Black Cats showed everything required to put a new lease of life into an Easter that could yet lead to the club’s resurrection and climb to safety.

First thing’s first and Sunderland remain in the Championship's bottom three, but now only by three points courtesy of a fully-committed performance that deserved to leave a play-off contender like Derby floored.

No matter how hard Derby pressed in the second half, Sunderland’s players dug deep to keep them at bay and protect a handsome two-goal lead which they were not prepare to let slip. And then extend it!

Sunderland were positive from the first whistle, reflective of Coleman’s attitude and pre-match talk that staying up was still achievable. George Honeyman’s deflected opener in the tenth minute got them up and running.

Then Ashley Fletcher, lively playing better than he has since moving from Middlesbrough, scored his first goal since September by making Derby defender Richard Keogh pay for an error in the 36th minute.

And even though Matej Vydra pulled one back with three minutes left of the first half, Aiden McGeady struck a penalty four minutes after the restart to restore Sunderland’s healthy advantage. Even John O’Shea marked his 250th appearance for the club with his fourth goal in those seven years with 13 minutes remaining.

Sunderland had the heart to deliver a victory for only the second time this year – only the sixth victory of the season - and a first win on their travels of 2018. If Sunderland can follow it up win a home win over Sheffield Wednesday on Monday then a great escape could seriously be on.

Positive results for Barnsley and Reading earlier in the day increased the need for Sunderland to start the Easter break with a positive performance and result – with the gap to safety increased to six points before a ball had been kicked.

There was a sense Coleman was throwing the dice for the last time with his selection, making five changes to his starting line-up and scrapping the formation he has preferred since taking over and it clearly had a positive effect.

A few were enforced, like the absence of Jake Clarke-Salter and Joel Asoro, but others were made in a bid to find a spark from somewhere, including handing Lynden Gooch his first start since January’s outing at Cardiff.

But it was not as if Derby could afford to be in cruise control either, with the threat of falling out of the play-off places credible after their own winless run of seven matches – and the atmosphere and intention from the home side was there from the first whistle.

However, much to the delight and surprise of the 1,900-strong travelling support, Sunderland’s new system and approach was carried out in plenty spirit and attacking intention and it delivered.

Fletcher had already gone clear to threaten before the impressive Paddy McNair’s cross-shot from the right had to be turned behind for a corner by goalkeeper Scott Carson. The former England goalkeeper could do nothing about the goal that came from that flag-kick.

When the corner was half cleared the ball fell invitingly for Honeyman lurking outside the area. His shot took a wicked deflection off Craig Forsyth to find the net beyond a wrong-footed Carson.

Derby had created a couple of half chances too by that point. Donald Love, back in at right-back, did excellently to prevent Cameron Jerome from getting on the end of a dangerous cross, while Andreas Weimann volleyed high and wide from Forsyth’s centre.

But Sunderland’s determined and effective first half display was reflected by the bouncing away fans. Not only did Sunderland do what was required in their own half, they also sprayed the ball around on the wet surface and caused problems at the other end.

There had been small signs a second might arrive before Richard Keogh’s dreadful pass went straight to Fletcher deep in the Derby half. The former West Ham striker darted towards the penalty area, fended off the attention of three markers before drilling low inside Carson’s bottom left.

To be two up with nine minutes remaining of the first half was dreamland stuff after such a depressing campaign, and it could easily have been three moments later when Fletcher’s run and cross down the right was inches away from being turned in by Gooch.

Just when Derby’s home fans had turned, booing some horrendous play, Gary Rowett’s side managed to pull themselves back into it and set up a tense second half for Sunderland.

When a ball into the visitors’ box headed for Vydra there was still a requirement for a quality finish and he delivered, volleying inside the top corner from 12 yards to give Derby hope.

Yet, despite that, Sunderland still should have restored a two-goal cushion before the break because Fletcher, fresh from scoring, ought to have put Aiden McGeady’s deep cross away but he dragged his volley wide.

Sunderland only had to wait four minutes into the second half for that to be the case when Gooch was brought down in the area to earn a penalty. McGeady did the rest, firing low inside Carson’s bottom right.

After that Derby probed quite a lot but their former goalkeeper Lee Camp was not asked many serious questions. In fact Fletcher went closest to extending the lead when he curled an effort against the inside of the up right.

Rowett’s side did have penalty shouts waved away when Jerome went down under a challenge from Lamine Kone, while Vydra powered an effort over from 12 yards despite being unmarked.

But then O’Shea, typifying how well Sunderland played throughout, capped a fantastic night by converting the loose ball in a crowded area to put Sunderland further ahead – and there was no coming back from that.