Boos rang around St James’ Park shortly before 2pm. By full time, the silence was even louder.
Sunderland have done it again. A last gasp winner, a patched up defence, and another Tyne Wear derby triumph to add to the collection. Newcastle’s sixteen year wait for a win in this fixture goes on and the black and white end of the city is in absolute meltdown.
Let’s be honest about what happened here. Sunderland were magnificent in the second half, and aside from a sloppy opening fifteen minutes, they were comfortably the better side. With several first team regulars missing, the defence was held together with tape and determination and after conceding early, it felt like it might be a long afternoon.
Instead, the Lads produced a comeback that will be talked about for years.
Before kick off, the noise from Newcastle was that they didn’t really care about this game. European nights, Barcelona, that sort of thing. The full time whistle told a very different story. The tantrums, the finger pointing, the sheer desperation of it all beautiful, absolutely beautiful.
The height of the hilarity? Watching Newcastle fans debate whether they’d rather beat Barcelona or Sunderland. In the end, they lost both. Aggregate score across the two games: 9-3. A crap week to be a Geordie, and Sunderland played a starring role.
For the most part, the neighbours have taken this one horrendously. Anger aimed at players, anger aimed at Eddie Howe. Which is strange really you’d think they’d be used to losing to Sunderland by now. But beating them never gets old, does it?
Think about what this club has been through. Nine games unbeaten against Newcastle. Two relegations. Four years in League One. Two playoff promotions. And at the first time of asking back in the Premier League, they’ve done the double over their rivals.
All those years of hearing about being light years behind. All that confidence from across the divide that Sunderland would be put back in their place and sent straight back down. Neither of those things has happened.
