Dan Wright scored twice as Sunderland completed a 2-1 victory over Derby County at Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground
The hosts took the lead on 34 minutes when Wright pounced on a mishit clearance from goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell.
The midfielder took advantage of another mix-up at the back in the 53rd minute when Mitchell and Ethan Wassall failed to clear Rees Greenwood’s cross.
Elliot Embleton almost made it 3-0 when his 25-yard effort cannoned off the crossbar but Derby reduced the arrears with seven minutes to go through Luke Thomas's deflected shot.
The win lifts the Black Cats to 10th place, three points behind seventh-placed Derby.
Sunderland report | Derby report
Next fixtures
Sunderland: 14 Jan v Chelsea (H), PL2
Derby: 15 Jan v Swansea (H), PL2