5 talking points as Newcastle crush Sunderland hopes to end derby wait in FA Cup
Newcastle finally won back Wear-Tyne bragging rights and a place in the FA Cup fourth round with a comfortable 3-0 victory away to bitter rivals Sunderland.
Meeting for the first time in seven years - and approaching 13 since Newcastle last came out on top - the Black Cats and the Magpies squared off at a rocking Stadium of Light, with blood and thunder pumping from the stands onto the pitch. A dominant first-half performance put Eddie Howe's men in control of the tie and Dan Ballard's own goal gifted them a slender but deserved advantage at the break.
Within a minute of the restart, though, Miguel Almiron seized on a Sunderland error and handed Alexander Isak the simplest of finishes to double the Magpies' lead. It was a day to forget for Michael Beale and co, especially after Isak's late penalty made it three for Newcastle, who can breathe again after worrying run of form in the Premier League.
Here are five talking points from the Stadium of Light.
1. Clash of the kits
Barring the raucous atmosphere reminiscent of the finest days at Roker Park, one thing stood out as the two teams walked out of the tunnel. Sunderland - clad in their red and white home shirt, black shorts and red socks - looked a bit too similar to their bitter rivals for TV viewers' liking.
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Newcastle were donning their regular black and white home shirt, which notably has red printing this season, with plain white shorts and socks. Neutrals watching on were baffled by the decision for the Magpies not to be in either their green away kit or navy alternate.
Memes flooded social media, with one user writing: "This Newcastle vs Sunderland game is like when you forget to change kits on FIFA before kick-off." Speaking for everyone it seemed, one asked: "Who's idea was it to let Sunderland and Newcastle both wear their home kits?
2. Ballard avoids an early bath
While Newcastle dominated the early proceedings when it came to having possession and creating chances, Sunderland's defence were doing well to restrict them in the final third. Dan Ballard, their 24-year-old Northern Irish centre-back, had enjoyed a solid start to the game, but then came a foot race with Alexander Isak.
After Sunderland's top scorer, Jack Clarke, was pickpocketed by Miguel Almiron in midfield, the Paraguayan winger threaded a perfectly-weighted ball through to Isak as Ballard scrambled back. The pair had hold of each other while Isak held possession, but it was the Sunderland defender who tumbled over first after grabbing hold of his opponent's jersey.
That brought the Newcastle striker down just before he entered the penalty area, as the ball rolled into the arms of Black Cats goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. Referee Craig Pawson, unable to rely on VAR like in the Premier League, waved away the Magpies' vehement appeals, with Ballard praised for his robust defending by ITV's Roy Keane and Chris Waddle at half-time - but Isak would have the last laugh.
Your turn! Should Dan Ballard have been sent off in the first half? Give us your verdict in the comments section.
Dan Ballard came out on top in his tussle with Alexander Isak (Michael Regan/Getty Images)3. Own goal agony
As Newcastle continued to have control of the game with the half-time break looming, Howe's side stepped up their attacking play and soon broke the deadlock - with a helping hand from Ballard. A neat cross from Joelinton out on the left flank flashed across the Sunderland box and as Isak lurked behind him for a simple tap-in, Northern Ireland international Ballard swung out his leg and shinned the ball into the back of his own net.
It sent the away fans at the opposite end into ecstasy, with a rare silence sweeping over the home crowd. As Newcastle maintained their dominance until the interval, it was clear to Sunderland boss Beale that his team needed to up the ante in the second half after firing off just one shot in the first 45 minutes.
A 35th-minute own goal gave Newcastle the lead (PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)4. Miggy doesn't give you a minute
Although it was imperative for Sunderland to start going at Newcastle's defence, they had to make sure their own back door was closed first. Unfortunately for exciting 21-year-old midfielder Pierre Ekwah - who left West Ham last January to become part of Beale's cast of young guns signed by predecessor Tony Mowbray - he dallied in his own box after receiving the ball from Patterson, allowing Almiron to nip in and steal it less than a minute after the restart.
The Newcastle fan favourite had a simple to square the ball to Isak, who also made no mistake in finishing calmly into a largely empty net. With that, the Swedish star became the first Magpies player to score a goal away to Sunderland since French right-back Mathieu Debuchy in 2013, but even that didn't come in win.
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5. Gordon's cheeky jibe
As Sunderland rallied midway through the second half - almost pulling a goal back when Ekwah had a long-range shot deflected, forcing goalkeeper Martin Dubravka into a smart save - Newcastle were getting joy thanks to their pace on the counter. On one occasion, Gordon raced through chasing a ball and Sunderland right-back Trai Hume - who was already on a booking - had some afters once Patterson had smothered it.
Hume, another Northern Irishman in the Sunderland ranks, grabbed hold of Gordon's shirt, prompting a skirmish between both sets of players. Once the heat died down, and the Newcastle man was booked, Gordon quipped to Hume: "You can have my shirt after." The ex-Everton hotshot and Euro 2024 hopeful was then the man who won Newcastle's penalty to clinch victory.
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