Milner steals fortunate point

Milner: Lucky leveller

Related links

Teams

• Newcastle United
• Sunderland

Players

• Danny Higginbotham
• James Milner

Also see

• Allardyce reaction
• Keane reaction

James Milner's unintentional equaliser saved Newcastle United as the Wear-Tyne derby ended in a 1-1 draw.

Danny Higginbotham was Sunderland's unlikely goalscorer as he netted in the second half, but 13 minutes later Milner stunned the Stadium of Light crowd.

The Black Cats were very much on top in the second half; however they failed to make their chances pay.

Sunderland eventually broke the deadlock on 52 minutes when a quick corner caught Newcastle half asleep, and Higginbotham headed in at the back post.

The Magpies' equaliser came in somewhat fortuitous circumstances as Milner's low cross found its way in off the far post.

Both sides pushed for a winner, with Michael Chopra coming closest to claiming a dramatic victory when his close-range header crashed off the crossbar.

Rarely has a Wear-Tyne derby been anticipated as eagerly as the 127th league meeting between the sides, and there was more than just local pride at stake.

Edwards gamble

Roy Keane took a gamble on winger Carlos Edwards, who had not played a senior game since tearing his hamstring at Birmingham on 15th August, and handed Chopra the task of partnering in-form striker Kenwyne Jones in attack.

By the time he headed for the dressing room at the break, the Irishman must have been delighted with what he had seen, despite losing skipper Nyron Nosworthy to injury with just 25 minutes gone.

Edwards and Ross Wallace provided good service to the frontmen, and although Abdoulaye Faye handled the dangerous Jones impressively, Chopra profited in and around the big man.

He sent an overhead kick wide on 17 minutes and was just off target with a long-range effort nine minutes later.

However, his best attempt came a minute before the break when he forced keeper Steve Harper to turn away a well-struck drive from distance with the home side piling on the pressure.

Leadbitter miss

Harper, who was born in Easington, a territory shared by the two clubs, had earlier kept his side level with a fine double save, scraping away Ian Harte's cross and then blocking Grant Leadbitter's follow-up.

He was a happy man, however, when Leadbitter powered a 33rd-minute header over with the goal at his mercy.

For their part, Newcastle were on the back foot for long periods as Sunderland worked tirelessly to close down space in midfield, although they did have chances as emergency left-back Charles N'Zogbia played his part in a series of lightning breaks.

Their 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.

A feisty half ended in suitable fashion with Dickson Etuhu and Joey Barton in each other's faces after the Newcastle man's late challenge, but both left the field knowing there were more important issues still to be resolved.

The Wearsiders took up where they had left off at the start of the second half and Harper had to pluck a 48th-minute Jones header out of his top corner, although Wallace's cross did not have enough pace on it to give the striker a real chance.

Mark Viduka flashed a 50th-minute cross just over Owen's head with Paul McShane desperately trying to get across, but the fireworks came at the other end two minutes later.

Quick corner

Faye wastefully conceded possession on halfway line to force David 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.

Owen flashed a header high over on the hour with the Magpies belatedly starting to make their presence felt, although they were dealt a blow on 61 minutes when Faye limped off with a hamstring problem and was replaced by Habib Beye.

But they 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.

Jones flashed a shot on the turn just wide and Gordon pulled off a fine save to deny Owen as play switched rapidly from end to end.

But in a frenetic finish, Chopra was denied by the woodwork as another late show eluded Keane's men.