New low for 'pathetic' Newcastle - as Sunderland in dreamland
From mocking and celebration to despair and disbelief - Newcastle fans went through every emotion as their poor Tyne-Wear derby record continued. Leading Sunderland 1-0 after nine minutes with a goal from Anthony Gordon, Newcastle were on course to claim a first league win over their local rivals since 2010. St James' Park was bouncing, with the supporters getting the perfect response to the humiliating 7-2 loss to Barcelona on Wednesday, a result that brought their Champions League campaign to a shuddering halt.
The home fans frequently chanted manager Eddie Howe's name. But it was a very different story at the end - with undoubtedly the lowest point of the season for the Toon Army. A stunning Sunderland fightback, with goals from Chemsdine Talbi and a 90th-minute winner from Brian Brobbey to seal a 2-1 victory, led to boos at the end, with home anger directed at Howe, while Sunderland fans celebrated deliriously high up in the top tier.
"I understand the criticism, accept it and have no issue with it," said a devastated Howe afterwards. "My first thought as a leader is to front up and absorb it. It is a very, very painful result, most of all for our supporters - they are the ones I think about now.
"I've got very little to use as an excuse and I don't want to go down that road. You expect to be criticised and I understand why. We have not done our jobs today in the second half and we're very disappointed in ourselves.
"I'm fully committed to the job and I'm disappointed in my delivery today and in the last week. " It proved to be a difficult day for Newcastle on and off the pitch, with crowd trouble outside the stadium and the Sunderland team coach damaged by thrown bottles. Furthermore, there was a pause at the start of the second half when referee Anthony Taylor alerted both benches that there had been discriminatory abuse from the crowd towards Sunderland player Lutsharel Geertruida.