Mackems Pegged Back In Injury Time

 

Both sides included three members of their first team squads - for Sunderland there was goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, midfielder Martin Woods and striker Daryl Murphy while Newcastle played Steve Harper, Amdy Faye and striker Michael Chopra.

Chopra is the league's top scorer with 11 goals and was always dangerous, going close with a header on 12 minutes and then lobbing the ball over stranded Sunderland keeper Davis but also over the bar.

But it was Sunderland who took the lead just before the break from a corner which was swung in from the right by Craig McFarlane. Murphy rose to head down for central defender Peter Hartley to fire home from six yards.

But Newcastle equalised from a corner. Brittain found defender Paul Huntington who rose to head home deep into injury time.

MACKEMS: Davis, Taylor, D Smith (Connolly, 45), Hartley, Donoghue, Davison, Richardson, Woods, McFarlane, Weir (Chandler, 88), Murphy.
Subs (not used): Carson, Chapman.

MAGS: Harper, Baxter, Cave, Faye, Huntington, Edgar, Brittain, Gate, Chopra, Finnigan (Carroll, 73), O'Brien (Pattison, 68).
Subs (not used): Smylie, Krul, Atkin.