On this day in 2000, Sunderland famously beat the Mags 2-1 away on their turf. The game included goals from SAFC’s Don Hutchinson and Niall Quinn, and a penalty miss from Alan Shearer...
This game took place in the 2000/2001 season where Peter Reid’s side finished seventh in the top flight for the second time in a row, the Black Cats highest league finish in the Premier League era.
The match didn’t start on a positive note; Mags midfielder Gary Speed missed his initial header as it hit the post and bounced off of a Sunderland defender, putting the ball back into his path, where he poked it home while on the floor making it 1-0 after just four minutes at St James’. With Newcastle drawing first blood in the Tyne-Wear Derby, Sunderland would have it all to do throughout the match with the crowd elated and the game in front of them.
Despite our defence being exposed quite quickly in the game, Brazilian defender Emerson Thome made great efforts to steady the ship for the Black Cats, pushing back against black and white efforts to double their lead in the first half. Up the other end, Sunderland’s attack did not back down either as Niall Quinn forced a great save from opposition goalkeeper Shay Given with a shot from outside the box. How on earth Given saved that I do not know.
Another chance to equalise came after Jody Craddock’s shirt was pulled in the box by Shearer to stop a header from our centre back, but no penalty was given to us and the Mags got away scot-free. The first half ended 1-0 to Bobby Robson’s Newcastle but this certainly wasn't lead that Peter Reid could not overcome.
The second half started hastily for Sunderland as they were awarded a free kick from the right side of the pitch. As the cross was delivered, Quinn headed the ball with no competition from the Tyneside defence but failed to convert as the ball bounced off the ground and was saved by the hands of Given. A minute after, Chris Makin was substituted off for Julio Arca. Kevin Phillips, who was the current European Golden Boot winner, whipped in a cross that Don Hutchison volleyed in with his left foot to make it 1-1 in the 68th minute. Hutchison’s celebrations would come to a halt though as the referee checked with his linesman for offside, but the goal stood.
Now with the game on equal footing, SAFC hoped to make the most of it. But the next significant chance of the game was for Newcastle as a free kick from Nobby Solano came awfully close to going in: it hit of the top of the post, denying what could have been a great goal for the Mags. The Black Cats, after realising how close their neighbours had come to retaking the lead, stormed up the left side of the pitch with captain Micky Gray blistering forward. His cross found the head of the ‘Irish Giant’ Niall Quinn, who headed home the third goal of the game to give Sunderland a 1-2 lead in the 76th minute.
Now with the lead secured, all the red and white men had to do was either keep up their defensive soundness or score another - but Quinn, after just putting us ahead, committed a foul on Rob Lee in the box giving away a penalty. Now under normal circumstances if you gave Newcastle, during this era of the Premier League, a penalty it would result in Shearer tucking it away easily. But this is the Tyne-Wear Derby and mad things can happen. As Newcastle’s number nine took the penalty he got it all wrong. Thomas Sørensen didn’t read the script; the Danish goalkeeper jumped to his left and saved the shot to keep the lead. The home fans were stunned to silence as the only noise to be heard in St James’ Park were the Mackems at the top, jumping and screaming in delight.
Sunderland left the match with their heads high as the match would end 1-2 for the second time running away to the Mags. This infamous comeback now lives on as a great memory along with many other results from the 1999/00 and 2000/01 seasons.
Sunderland Starting XI: Thomas Sørensen, Jody Craddock, Emerson Thome, Chris Makin, Michael Gray, Don Hutchison, Darren Williams, Alex Rae, Kevin Kilbane, Niall Quinn, Kevin Phillips.
Subs: J.Macho, S.Varga, J.Oster, J.Arca, D.Dichio.
Newcastle Starting XI: Shay Given, Aaron Hughes, Didier Domi, Steven Caldwell, Nolberto Solano, Clarence Acuna, Gary Speed, Christian Bassedas, Robert Lee, Kieron Dyer, Alan Shearer.
Subs: S.Harper, W.Barton, A.Griffin, D.Cordone, L.Lua Lua.
