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.