Sunderland recovered from an early mistake to snatch a 2-1 win away from home in Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle United.
Anthony Gordon gave the hosts the lead after just 10 minutes following an awful mistake from Luke O’Nien. However, the Black Cats recovered their composure well and got to grips with Newcastle, striking back in the 57th minute through Chemsdine Talbi.
Malick Thiaw briefly thought he’d given Newcastle the win in the 75th minute when he headed home a Lewis Hall corner, but referee Anthony Taylor rightly ruled the goal out after spotting Jacob Murphy interfering with Melker Ellborg from an offside position.
It was at the other end where the winner was found, with Brian Brobbey firing home from close range in the 90th minute, at the end of what was an extended period of Mackem pressure.
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Sunderland recover from senseless early mistake
This game was sparked to life by what was simply an awful, senseless mistake.
Luke O’Nien has barely had a look in the Premier League this season, clocking just 137 minutes before this fixture. However, with Dan Ballard injured, he was the man thrust into the middle of the Tyne-Wear madness.
With that in mind, you have to question what he and Ellborg were thinking by giving him the ball from a short goal-kick so early on. O’Nien was quickly pressured and sliced his clearance straight to Nick Woltemade, who got the ball to Gordon, who did the rest — beating O’Nien before firing into the back of the net, it should be noted.
That was just one moment in what was an incredibly nervous performance from O’Nien, who completed none of his four long passes and won just two of his seven duels. The 31-year-old did improve in the second half, but was the clear target for Newcastle attacks throughout.
Luckily for O’Nien, those around him, like Omar Alderete, Granit Xhaka and Lutsharel Geertruida, put in rock-solid defensive performances and were able to paper over the cracks, ultimately inspiring Sunderland to a hard-earned, famous St. James’ Park derby win.
- Key stat: Sunderland made 17 tackles, 31 clearances, four interceptions and four blocks against Newcastle.
Brian Brobbey, in particular, was a standout performer for Sunderland, with his goal just the cherry on top of a showing that yielded two shots on target, two chances created, three of seven aerial duels won and 11 touches in the opposition box.
Derby defeat deepens Newcastle gloom
Newcastle were the protagonists of this match right from the start, getting the early goal and piling pressure on the Sunderland backline.
However, as has been the case so many times this season, Eddie Howe’s men were unable to turn that pressure into serious chances and goals.
Sven Botman’s header off the post just before half-time and the disallowed Thiaw goal were their best moments after the opener. And Lewis Hall was a genuine menace on the left, delivering cross after dangerous cross.
However, from Gordon to Woltemade, there was simply nobody there with the instincts to get on the end of those crosses, while Sunderland shored up and proved too difficult to break down through extended passing sequences.
- Key stat: Despite controlling 60% possession, Newcastle were outshot 17-16 by Sunderland, to the tune of 0.95-3.35 xG.
This has been a frustrating, worrying trend throughout this season for a Newcastle side that seem totally inept at solving in-game problems. During the week, that combined with wretched defending to deliver a 7-2 Champions League drubbing at the hands of Barcelona. This time, it was a derby defeat at home that allows Sunderland a league double against their nearest and not-so-dearest.
Sunderland — who are now a Tyne-Wear record 11 league games unbeaten in this fixture — have leapfrogged Newcastle in the league, and the Magpies are now 12th, seven points behind Liverpool in fifth and nine points behind the top four. Their season is slipping through their fingers, and there is seemingly nothing Eddie Howe can do about it.