Derby County’s Under 23s were forced to settle for a point at the Stadium of Light after Sunderland fought back on two occasions to secure a 2-2 draw in the North East.

Hotly contested in the middle of the park throughout the first half, the Rams opened the account for the evening in fortuitous circumstances as the Black Cats’ goalkeeper Mika punched tamely from a corner, which cannoned off Mason Bennett and nestled in the back of the net.

The hosts responded immediately as they sought an equaliser and got their first of the night through Daniel Wright, who stepped off the substitutes bench to score from close range.

That lasted a little under two minutes , though, as Kellan Gordon struck his first goal of the season after Bennett beat Mika to a high ball, leaving the Rams’ wideman to volley the ball into an unguarded goal.

Division 1 runners up last season, Sunderland clawed themselves back with just four minutes remaining after Thomas Beadling, confidently, scored from the penalty spot to snatch a point from the contest.

Enthralling in the second half, the first 45 minutes was about Darren Wassall’s Derby side displaying their resilience against a Sunderland team containing a handful of first team players, including former Manchester United man Donald Love.

Another senior player, Lynden Gooch, started this meeting brightly as the hosts quickly got out of the traps and applied pressure on Jonathan Mitchell’s goal.

Rees Greenwood was the first chance his arm, hitting a long range effort straight at the Rams’ ‘keeper, whilst at the other end, Gordon forced Mika into his first save of the evening with a powerful drive.

After a period of graft being shown in the middle of the park, George Honeyman also saw a long effort easily claimed by Mitchell after a smart layoff from Joel Asoro, whilst Ethan Robson clipped the top of the crossbar with a header shortly after.

That was the last opening of the first half, but both teams returned after 15 minutes in the company of their respective coaching teams for an epic second 45 minutes.

The Rams opened the scoring against the run of play, coming after Mitchell had been busy as he denied Greenwood at his near post, and had the same post covered again as Asoro smashed a shot into the side netting.

It proved crucial as the visitors opened the scoring shortly after. Derby have been a big threat from set pieces in recent games and this was the case again as Mika attempted to punch Callum Guy’s delivery, but smacked it straight at Bennett’s leg, sending the ball back into the Sunderland goalkeeper’s net.

Andy Walsh’s Black Cats sought an immediate response and stepped on the gas as Gooch forced another save out of Mitchell and when the Derby ‘keeper was beaten, his far post came to the rescue.

Sunderland continued to lay siege on the Rams’ goal and duly equalised on 75 minutes as Wright poked in from close after the visitors had, desperately, attempted to clear their lines from a dangerous clipped effort.

Wassall’s men, however, responded in perfect fashion – hitting back immediately to restore their one goal lead.

Calum Macdonald whipped in a dangerous cross from the left towards Alex Babos and Gordon in the middle and after the former looped a header in the air, Mika rushed out, lost out in an aerial dual with Bennett and left Gordon with the simplest of finishes.

It seemed enough, but Sunderland – throwing everything at Derby’s backline including the kitchen sink – were gifted the chance to equalise for an adjudged foul right of centre.

Beadling stepped up, planting the ball down the middle of the goal as the Rams were harshly forced to settle for a point in the North East.

Sunderland U23s: Mika, J. Robson, T. Robson, Love (Wright, 63), Beadling, Brady, Honeyman, E. Robson, Asoro (Maja, 78), Gooch, Greenwood

Substitutes not used: Embleton, Stryjek, Molyneux

Derby County U23s: Mitchell, Stabana, Cover, Lelan, Macdonald; Guy, Gordon, Vernam, Babos, Bennett (Edwards, 86), Jakobsen (Walker, 64)

Substitutes not used: Walker, Ravas, Bateman, Bogle

Attendance: 405

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