Reigning Central League Cup champions Sunderland missed out on a second successive appearance in the final after going down 3-2 at Derby County. Adam Mitchell handed Keith Bertschin's side the perfect start with a 27th-minute opener, but the Rams roared back with a trio of goals to set up a date with Manchester City. Substitute Mikael Mandron pulled a goal back late on but it wasn't enough for Sunderland's second string, who round off their season against Manchester United next month. It was a game of many chances at Pride Park with Scottish international Craig Gordon in goal for the visitors. Sunderland's Jordan Laidler was denied by Adam Legzdins inside the opening two minutes, while Roarie Deacon came close with a header after Derby midfielders Will Hughes and Tom Carroll both blazed over. The visitors inched ahead when Mitchell, a second-year apprentice, wriggled free at the back post to turn home Laidler's low cross. Carroll almost pulled the Rams level just before the break but volleyed over from eight yards. Sunderland made a strong start to the second period, with Legzdins saving well from Laidler one-on-one before Deacon saw a close-range header deflected onto the crossbar. But the momentum dissipated as, seven minutes into the second period, Kwame Thomas headed home James Bailey's corner to level the scores. Hughes made it 2-1 with 20 minutes left, creating the space to receive a low ball into the box before rifling a shot beyond Gordon into the roof of the net. Chris Jones added another goal three minutes later, nipping in between Gordon and Brett Elliott to head home from two yards. Mandron replied when he raced onto a through ball to produce a neat finish, but an equaliser didn't materialize as the holders' cup challenge was cut short. Sunderland: Gordon, Marrs, Callaghan (Oliver, 63), Elliott, Bagnall, Watson, Gorrin (Mandron, 74), Deacon, Laidler, Mitchell, Lynch. Subs Not Used: Wilson, Thomas, Lawson. Derby: Legzdins, Jones, Berry (Galinski, 65), Ball, Connolly, Hughes, Bailey, Carroll, Witham (Dawkins, 46), Thomas (Richards, 87), Bennett. Subs Not Used: Severn, Dales.
