A wonder goal from Jermain Defoe gifted Sunderland a huge three points in the battle to stay in the Premier League against arch rivals Newcastle.
In the what was tipped the biggest Tyne Wear derby since 1990, Sunderland started the brighter and looked well up for this huge game at the Stadium of Light.
They looked dangerous from set pieces and had a couple of corners in the opening stages, one forcing Tim Krul in a firm punch under severe pressure from a crowd of Sunderland players. Newcastle struggled to even string two passes together in the opening 20 minutes. The closest John Carver’s team came to scoring in the entire first half was a deflected strike from Remy Cabella which was easily collected by the towering Costel Pantilimon on 35 minutes.
The first half looked to be fizzling out but a moment of magic woke everyone up on the stroke of half time. A knock down from Steven Fletcher was met by the boot of veteran striker Jermain Defoe who blasted the ball into the top corner, leaving Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul with very little chance of saving it. Defoe was visibly emotional when leaving the pitch at half time, the relief of a big goal in a big game almost reducing Defoe to tears.
Newcastle came out in the second half needing a goal and started the second period much better than the first, controlling possession in the early stages of the second half. However despite this spell of pressure, they were failing to create a clear cut opportunity. Sunderland began to drop back and the game really quietened down a little.
Very little happened until the 70th minute when Steven Fletcher had the chance to seal it after a Defoe pass, however the Scotland international lifted the ball over the cross bar and into the stands. Sunderland started to drop deeper and deeper and began to invite pressure on themselves. Pantilimon was forced into his first real save on 78 mins when substitute Emmanuel Riviere hit a low shot towards goal but was pushed away from the Romanian goalkeeper.
However Newcastle will look back on a wonderful chance they failed to convert on 88 minutes, a pacey Ryan Taylor corner was flicked on and fell to Ayoze Perez on the edge of the six yard box. However it was volleyed over the top of the goal and the Sunderland fans could breathe a heavy sigh of relief. Despite the nervy final few minutes, Sunderland hung on to a famous win that claws them closer to safety.