No Moaning From Mackems

"That was a cracking advert for the Premiership and the north east," added Souness. "I love derby games. I was tempted to say beforehand that derbies have always been kind to me, but I didn't want to tempt providence on this occasion.

"I'm just delighted to come away with the three points, but no, there's no relief in winning this match."

Did Sunderland deserve a point? They were denied a penalty late on when Charles N'Zogbia seemed to bring down Lawrence, while Elliott also struck the crossbar, and manager Mick McCarthy said: "There's a sense of pride, but no sense of injustice because these are things that happen in the game.

"I never doubted they would get a free-kick (which led to the winner) on the edge of our box at some stage, while we should have had a penalty. But there was as much chance of us getting that as me making my way home under my own steam, flapping my arms.

"But such is life. What I do feel is that the width of the crossbar has been the difference between a great performance and a great result and me sat here p****d off because we've been beaten. I felt we were the better side in the second half but it doesn't matter now because they are the ones with the bragging rights."