NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 SUNDERLAND 2

Unlike last August which saw the end of Ruud Gullit's tenure, the game was played in less than monsoon conditions and Alan Shearer was on the pitch.

However, it was geordie boy Don Hutchison who broke The Magpies' resolve with the equaliser after 69 minutes and arch-nemesis Niall Quinn who eventually broke the shackles of his markers and headed in a superb 77th minute winner.

It had all started so well for Newcastle with Gary Speed given the opportunity to open the scoring after just 20 seconds, a break down in communication at the back for the visitors saw him clear on the edge of the box.

However by the time Speed had controlled the ball, Emerson Thome had got back and under pressure the Welsh captain hit his shot wide.

Speed was not going to be denied and in the fourth minute he put the home side ahead, Clarence Acuna sprung fellow South American Nolberto Solano on the right and a trademark delivery was headed goalwards by Speed.

The ball cannoned off the post but back into the six-yard box and from the ground, Speed hooked the ball past Thomas Sorenson to cap an impressive start.

Just two minutes later and the game could have been level as Shay Given, who has been in fine form this season had to be at his best to dive full length and tip a Hutchison shot wide.

The first ten minutes went from end to end and Acuna almost got on the end of a fine free-kick from the left, as Solano continued to look dangerous.

Eventually the game settled down and Hutchison began to stamp his authority on the midfield, whilst for the home side, Robert Lee looked imperious in his new libero role.

Referee Graham Poll has to be given credit for allowing the game to flow as a succession of challenges went unpunished and the official entered into the spirit of the derby.

After a large quantity of dissent went ignored, Lee was the first into the book as he brought down Kevin Kilbane in the 27th minute after the Irish star had beaten three players.

From the resulting free-kick the Sunderland fans were baying for a penalty after Shearer tussled with Jody Craddock in the box and an errant hand appeared to touch the ball, but nothing was given.

The game continued to go from end to end but the first half ended relatively chanceless as Newcastle did well against the aerial bombardment that seemed to be Sunderland's only tactic.

Acuna had the first chance of the second-half, which had started off much slower than the first, in the 48th minute but with Sorenson on-rushing to cut off the chance, the Chilean's attempted headed lob dribbled wide.

Newcastle were caught offside an amazing 11 times during the match and much of their promising build up in the second period was cut short by the referee's whistle.

In the 57th minute, Magpies boss Bobby Robson opted for more firepower by bringing on Lomano Tresor Lua Lua for Cristian Bassedas in what seemed a strange substitution at the time.

The move allowed the visitors more space in midfield and Phillips almost burst clear in the 63rd minute, however, Acuna stopped him with a magnificent challenge.

Two minutes later and Lua Lua did well to link up with Solano, the cross into the box was low and both Lua Lua and Shearer went for the same ball, and the former England captain blasted over from close range.

Sunderland began to grow confident as Newcastle conceded ground and in the 68th minute the visitors should have levelled through Quinn as Kilbane's free-kick found him free on the edge of the six-yard box.

His glancing header was brilliantly palmed clear by Given but it was only a brief respite for the Newcastle goal as a minute later, Phillips did well to beat Speed on the left before whipping in a great cross.

Quinn was bundled over in the box by Steven Caldwell and as a penalty appeared to have been given, Hutchison hooked the ball into the top corner for the equaliser.

Newcastle should have gone back in front in the 72nd minute when a brilliantly worked free-kick routine saw two players step over the ball before Solano curled his shot over the wall and off the junction of bar and post, with Sorenson absolutely motionless.

When the home side were awarded a second free kick in a similar position, it ended up being the prelude to the visitors' winner as they tried the same routine only for Sorenson to be easily behind the shot.

He bowled the ball out to Michael Gray who scampered 50 yards down the left before delivering a perfect cross for Quinn to loop his header into the top corner past a despairing Given.

Warren Barton came on for Acuna but it was only the defender's second appearance in two months and he could not save his side.

Newcastle were handed a lifeline in the 83rd minute as Quinn brought down Lee in the box, the midfielder had done brilliantly to retrieve position deep in the Sunderland park and went on a jinking run, reminiscent of old before being brought down by a clumsy challenge by the Irishman.

However, a nervous-looking Shearer stepped up and although his penalty was well struck it was at the right height for Sorenson who guessed right and palmed it away.

This knocked the stuffing out of the home side and despite pressurising late on, they created nothing and Sunderland ended up playing out the three minutes of injury time in the Newcastle corner area as they completed a very professional win.