Sunday 20 March 2016 17:24, UK
Aleksandar Mitrovic's late header rescued a 1-1 draw for Newcastle in a frenetic Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland on Super Sunday.
The Black Cats looked to be on their way to a seventh consecutive victory over their local rivals after Jermain Defoe gave them a deserved first-half lead, but Mitrovic headed Newcastle's equaliser with just seven minutes of normal time remaining.
From Newcastle ending their derby hoodoo to Defoe's importance to Sunderland, we look at the top talking points from the game…
Newcastle end their derby hoodoo
It was not the victory that Newcastle would have wanted, nor was it a performance to provide too much encouragement for Rafael Benitez, but Mitrovic's late equaliser finally ended a six-game losing streak against their bitter rivals - and the wild celebrations inside St James' Park showed just how much it meant.
Not since a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light in October 2012 have Newcastle avoided defeat in the Tyne-Wear derby, and for a long time it looked like recent history was about to repeat itself. Sunderland were largely untroubled for long periods, and Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness felt the result will have been more disappointing for the visitors.
"Sunderland will think they have let it slip, and Newcastle, who didn't take part in the game in the first half, were a lot better in the second half," he said. "It's not a disaster for either side as it doesn't decide anything, but Sunderland will be the more disappointed because they were 10 minutes away from three points which would have gone a long way towards survival."
Mitrovic rescues Rafa
Mitrovic has struggled to live up to expectations since his £13m arrival from Anderlecht in the summer, but after scoring the winner against West Brom in February, this was another crucial strike in Newcastle's battle to avoid the drop.
The Serb talked about emulating Alan Shearer when he arrived in the north-east, and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher saw shades of the Newcastle legend in his towering header from Georginio Wijnaldum's cross. "That's what you want to see," said Carragher. "You think of Newcastle forwards and it's that. It's a powerful header at the back post, reminiscent of a Les Ferdinand or an Alan Shearer."
Mitrovic's passion couldn't be questioned either. His jubilant celebration befitted the occasion, and Newcastle's medical staff had to physically force him off the pitch after he suffered a nasty head injury in stoppage time.
Evergreen Defoe strikes again
Mitrovic will dominate the headlines but his dramatic equaliser should not overshadow another vital contribution from Defoe. The 33-year-old's 12th Premier League goal of the season was struck with unerring accuracy on the volley and, in the Sky Sports studio, Sunderland legend Niall Quinn was impressed.
"Having missed a good chance earlier on that we might have expected Jermain to score, he kept his eye on a very difficult looping ball that came his way and he tucked it away," said Quinn. "You just cannot beat that, at this time of the year especially. It's fantastic"
Defoe's intelligent movement made him a constant menace to the hosts, but it is his enduring finishing ability that is making the difference for Sunderland this season. Of players to have had at least 20 shots in the current campaign, Defoe's conversion rate of 30 per cent is the best in the Premier League. His goals have won Sunderland 13 points in total, and he could yet prove decisive in the relegation run-in.
Encouraging signs from Townsend
It was no great surprise to see Andros Townsend omitted from Roy Hodgson's England squad given his struggles for form and fitness since joining Newcastle from Tottenham in January, but the winger was given a chance to provide a reminder of his abilities with his first start since mid-February.
There were encouraging signs, too. In the opening exchanges he sent inviting crosses towards Mitrovic and Moussa Sissoko from the right flank, and he also stung Vito Mannone's palms from outside the area following a jinking run through a crowd of Sunderland defenders.
Townsend faded slightly before his second-half substitution, but he was Newcastle's most dangerous attacking outlet overall and by the time he was replaced by Papiss Cisse he had provided more goalscoring chances (six) than any other player on the pitch.
Advantage Norwich?
The home fans at St James' Park were not the only set of supporters celebrating Mitrovic's late equaliser. A Sunderland victory would have sent Norwich back into the bottom three, but the draw means the Canaries stay two points clear after their 1-0 win over West Brom on Saturday.
Sunderland and Newcastle each have a game in hand on Alex Neil's side, but this result sets up a thrilling relegation run-in. With Newcastle and Norwich going head to head in another six-pointer after the international break, there could be more twists and turns still to come.
