Brian Brobbey’s 90th-minute winner saw Sunderland snatch a 2-1 comeback victory at Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby to boost their hopes of European qualification.
Brobbey smashed in a 90th-minute rebound winner after his initial shot from Enzo Le Fee’s pass was blocked by Aaron Ramsdale, in a result which saw Sunderland’s unbeaten Premier League run in the Tyne-Wear derby extended to 11 matches.
Anthony Gordon initially fired Newcastle into a 10th-minute lead after he met Nick Woltemade’s pass from the German’s interception of Luke O’Nien’s forward pass.
Chemsdine Talbi equalised for Sunderland through a close-range 57th-minute equaliser from Dan Burn’s tame clearance.
Brobbey’s late winner lifted Sunderland above Newcastle into 11th in the league table as the Magpies slipped to 12th position just behind their local rivals.
Sat six and eight points respectively off the last European spot held by sixth-placed Chelsea at present, Newcastle and Sunderland came into this local derby knowing that victory was imperative for their hopes of snatching European qualification for next season.
Eddie Howe’s Magpies however had come into this game off the back of a tough 7-2 Champions League exit at Barcelona, yet they started on the front foot as Anthony Elanga headed Lewis Hall’s third-minute cross over the bar.
Sunderland failed to heed that early warning and just seven minutes later, O’Nien tried to play out from the back but his pass was intercepted by Woltemade, who found Gordon to rifle across into the far-bottom left corner to put Newcastle in front.
Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats struggled to offer much hope of an equaliser aside from Brian Brobbey’s tame 26th-minute shot.
Newcastle meanwhile nearly doubled their lead in the 33rd minute as Elanga pounced on Woltemade’s pass but smashed his shot into the left-side netting.
Sven Botman then nodded Lewis Hall’s 43rd-minute throw-in onto the crossbar as the hosts continued to pose the biggest threats in the closing minutes of the first half.
Sunderland however began the second half with a similar intensity and press which Newcastle had began the first half with, which saw Chris Rigg’s 56th-minute shot punched behind by Ramsdale.
Ramsdale however set up the Black Cats’ equaliser from the subsequent corner as he punched the delivery out to Trai Hume, whose shot was diverted onto goal by Brobbey, only for Burn to make a tame clearance which fell for Talbi to poke in to restore parity.
Newcastle eventually reignited their spark in the 66th minute as substitute, Jacob Murphy forced a block from Melker Ellborg, before their subsequent corner was put wide by Tino Livramento via a deflection.
Malick Thiaw nodded Newcastle back in front from a 75th-minute corner but his goal was swiftly disallowed because referee – Anthony Taylor had spotted that Murphy had blocked Ellborg’s view.
The game looked destined for a draw until Le Fee burst up to the right by-line from which he cut a pass back across the box, where Brobbey was able to flick initially into Ramsdale before he smashed in the rebounding ball to complete Sunderland’s first league double over the Magpies since 2014-15 season.
“Resilience is probably the most important word today”
Le Bris in his post-match interview to safc.com felt that his team handed Newcastle their “opportunity” to take the lead in the first half, but was proud of his team managed to keep their deficit to a single goal at half time as he credited their unity and team spirit for the comeback.
“It was all about our togetherness and our ability to stick to the plan, because it is really easy to lose your mind in these emotional situations.
“I am really proud of our players because they were calm and composed under pressure.
“Our resilience is probably the most important word today – that is what kept us in the game.”
What’s Next?
Newcastle kick off their season’s run-in with a trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday 12 April at 2pm BST.
Sunderland meanwhile host relegation-battling Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of Light in a simultaneous 2pm kick-off on that same date.
Teams
Newcastle: Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Trippier (Livramento 65′), Sven Botman (Thiaw 54′), Dan Burn, Lewis Hall, Jacob Ramsey, Joelinton, Nick Woltemade (Willock 65′), Anthony Elanga (J Murphy 65′), Anthony Gordon (Wissa 89′), Harvey Barnes (Osula 76′)
Substitutes: Tino Livramento, Jacob Murphy, Alex Murphy, Sean Neve, William Osula, Nick Pope, Malick Thiaw, Joe Willock, Yoane Wissa
Sunderland: Melker Ellborg, Lutsharel Geertruida, Luke O’Nien, Omar Alderete, Trai Hume, Granit Xhaka, Chris Rigg, Habib Diarra (Le Fee 85′), Noah Sadiki, Chemsdine Talbi (Reinildo 93′), Brian Brobbey (Mayenda 93′)
Substitutes: Dennis Cirkin, Wilson Isidor, Harrison Jones, Jenson Jones, Enzo Le Fee, Reinildo, Eliezer Mayenda, Simon Moore, Nordi Mukiele
Referee – Anthony Taylor
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