Delap dreams of Derby days for Black Cats

RORY DELAP is hoping history repeats itself when Sunderland face Manchester United as the countdown to relegation from the Premiership reaches its climax at Old Trafford tonight.

The Black Cats must defeat the Premiership’s in-form team to delay the inevitable, but the Republic of Ireland international has fond memories of beating the odds some five years ago.

He said: “I played a few times at Old Trafford where results have been a bit hit and miss, but I was at Derby when we beat them to secure our Premiership status for another season.

“That made winning there all the more sweet.

“Our fans were on the pitch celebrating with us for half an hour after the match. It’s great to win there, but that was something really special.

“When I moved from Carlisle to Derby my first game was against Everton and the next at Old Trafford against Manchester United when I gave away a penalty for a challenge on Ryan Giggs - I don’t think I have been the last player to do that.

“But this is a massive game, in fact with the derby against Newcastle coming up at the Stadium of Light on Monday, we’ve got two massive games over the Bank Holiday weekend.”

Delap is determined to play through the pain barrier and has delayed an operation on a broken nose such is his desire to delay relegation as long as possible.

He was led from the pitch after just nine minutes of last week’s abandoned match with Fulham with blood streaming down his face following a clash with team-mate George McCartney.

But he has told caretaker manager Kevin Ball he wants to be considered for the crunch double-header.