Delap dreams of Derby days
Rory Delap is hoping history repeats itself when Sunderland face Manchester United as the countdown to relegation from the Barclays Premiership reaches its climax at Old Trafford tomorrow.
The Black Cats must defeat the current in-form team of the Premiership to delay the inevitable, but the Republic of Ireland international has fond memories of beating the odds some five years ago.
He explained: “I’ve 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 1-0 to secure our Premiership status for another season.
“That made winning there all the more sweet. Our travelling fans were on the pitch celebrating with us for half an hour after the match.
“It’s great to win there any time, 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 either.
“But this is a massive game for us, 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 until the close 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 and take his chances of inflicting no further damage to an injury which will eventually require surgery.
Delap continued: “My family were at the match and my dad was a bit worried about my good looks and said that would put my model career on hold.
“I thought I just had a nosebleed at first but I got a pain behind my eyes and as I have had a broken nose before, I knew I had done some damage because of the symptoms.
“The specialist said I had 10 days or so to think about having an operation now or waiting until the summer. It’s a risk but I don’t want to miss any games between now and the end of the season.
“I missed enough games when I first came here from Southampton because of an Achilles injury. I’m desperate to play and I just hope the gaffer includes me in the squad.”
Ball has attempted to play down the significance of the outcome and has encouraged his players to enjoy the occasion before turning their sights to the derby with the old enemy on Monday.
“We have to go out there and give everything we have got,” he said. “I’ve said to the players a lot of them have come a long way in a short period of time and that I hope the experience they have gained this season will live with them for the rest of their lives and make them stronger people.
“They want to go to places like Old Trafford and not just enjoy the occasion, but to have a right go.
“Manchester United are on a roll at the moment, they’ve got some fantastic individuals and are a very good team.
“We know it’s going to be very difficult, but we will go there and give it our best shot.”
