Graeme Murty's side succumbed to another late goal to deny Sunderland U21s a return to winning ways in a performance where they dominated until the latter stages of the second-half. Harry Gardiner's strike gave the Black Cats the lead in the second-half but Sonny Blu Lo-Everton scored at the death to give Derby their first point of their Premier League 2 Division 2 campaign.
Isaac Lihadji was given his first start in a red and white shirt after arriving from Lille in the January transfer window. The French winger has managed just 15 minutes of game time from the bench against Reading, but was given 67 minutes this evening.
The French winger was at the centre of the Wearsiders' bright start. His mazy run down the right hand side won a corner for his team, he was then inches away from giving Sunderland the lead as Derby goalkeeper Harry Evans dropped the resulting corner with Lihadji lurking, only to gather at the second attempt.
