Toon Frustrate Mackems In Their Own Back Yard!
SUNDERLAND:
Subs Not Used: Ward, Miller, Connolly.
NEWCASTLE UTD: Harper, Taylor, Faye (Beye 61), Rozehnal, N'Zogbia, Milner, Smith, Barton, Emre (Geremi 88), Owen (Martins 83), Viduka.
Subs Not Used: Forster, Jose Enrique.
Att: 47,701
Roy Keane had the Magpie's boss sussed when he said: "He plays percentage football, plays in your half and makes it hard for you.
"He had an element of success at Bolton playing that way."
And the ex-Manchester United boss saw his side have the better of the first-half, but Big Sam's "percentage football" struck back in the second.
James Milner dashed Sunderland's hopes of a first derby victory on home soil in 27 years, but I think the youngster will have his work cut out to suggest he MEANT his shot to go on target.
Danny Higginbotham's first goal in a red and white shirt had given the home side a lead seven minutes after the break and they had the Toon on the "back foot" for most of the first half.
However, Milner played a neat one-two with Joey Barton before drilling a 65th-minute shot across Craig Gordon and inside the far post to ensure the spoils were shared.
I'm sure it was meant for the on-rushing Toon strikers, but who was complaining when none of them got a toe to it ... and it didn't need one anyway.
There was almost a twist in the tail when former Magpie Michael Chopra headed an Ian Harte cross against the bar with just eight minutes remaining, and obviously we will never know how he would have celebrated.
He scored within seconds of appearing as a substitute (in black and white) the last time this derby was staged and the Toon Army almost sucked him into the away end. And if the truth was known ... he'd have been willing to join them!
This time, however, the boot was on the other foot. And he was so close to being the first player since Bryan 'Pop' Robson to play for both clubs and score against the opposition.
The woodwork kept out his header - thank God - and he was saved the wrath of the Magpies supporters.
Newcastle's capitulation against Portsmouth at St James' Park last Saturday had set the alarm bells ringing, and I know the Mags would not have accepted the rubbish that was served up that day. A defeat, and a bad one, would have had Allardyce looking down the barrel of a twelve-bore.
Terry McDermott said he had impressed upon the foreign Newcastle players the importance of the game, although with 47,701 fans going mental inside the Stadium of Light, I think they got the message early enough.
Chopra was given the task of partnering in-form striker Kenwyne Jones in attack, while Sam went for Mark Viduka and Michael Owen up front.
David Rozehnal was drafted back in at centre-half and Steven Taylor and Charles N'Zogbia were again played out of position in the full-back positions.
In midfield he went with the tough-tackling Joey Barton, Emre and Alan Smith, with Milner out wide.
Taylor seemed as though he wanted to play every position on the pitch, being a Geordie boy, obviously playing with his heart rather than his brain. But a couple of times he was caught well out of position and gifted the Sunderland left-winger acres of space down the right side of Newcastle's defence.
Abdoulaye Faye handled the dangerous Jones impressively, but Chopra profited in and around the big man and sent an overhead kick wide on 17 minutes and was just off target with a long-range effort nine minutes later.
Steve Harper saw more of the action than the Sunderland goalkeeper, but he looked up to it, until the goal of course.
N'Zogbia played his part in a series of lightning breaks, and you do get a lot from him at left-back, so long as you have a strong midfielder to cover as he goes forward. That happened this time, which hasn't been the case in the past.
United's best opportunity fell to Michael Owen on 28 minutes when he collected the Frenchman's deep cross beyond the far post and although his control was not perfect, managed to get in a shot which Gordon blocked.
Dickson Etuhu and Barton got in each other's faces after the Newcastle man's late challenge just before half-time, and I'm sure the press will fill you in on that tiff.
The Wearsiders took the lead when Faye wastefully conceded possession on halfway to force Rozehnal to concede a corner, and it was taken quickly for Leadbitter to cross to the far post for Higginbotham to head firmly past Harper.
But United grabbed a lifeline on 65 minutes when Milner exchanged passes with Barton and then sent a low shot across goal and just inside the far post.
In a frenetic finish, Chopra was denied by the woodwork and the Tyne/Wear derby had 47,000 fans walk away with pride in place. "At least we didn't get beat!" was the mumble from the majority.