On this day in 1980 a second half Stan Cummins goal ensured Newcastle would not do the double over us in a season where we earned promotion to the top flight.
Earlier in the 1979-80 season Stan Cummins had given us the lead at St James’ Park but goals from Peter Cartwright, Tommy Cassidy and Alan Shoulder meant we travelled back to Sunderland empty handed.
We seemingly reacted quite well to this though as we would go on a run of ten games that saw just one defeat.
Back then the top three teams would be promoted to the top flight, there were no play offs, and this good form meant we were getting closer to breaking into the automatic spots after falling as low as 12th in November.
Ken Knighton’s side lined up like this: Turner, Whitworth, Hinnigan, Clarke, Hindmarch, Elliott, Arnott, Rowell, Brown, Robson, Cummins (plus a bench with just Dunn)
Newcastle did have two players in their matchday squad who would go on to play for Sunderland, goalkeeper Steve Hardwick and substitute Nigel Walker. Neither of them really did much whilst here making nine and one appearance respectively.
Early on the Mags had a header easily saved by Chris Turner and then we had a couple of attempts of our own, winning a few corners and forcing Hadwick to make a simple stop.
The away side almost had the lead when Cassidy chipped Turner but luckily the ball went over the crossbar.
Shoulder then nearly scored, with his effort also going over.
As the game approached half time we hadn’t really come close with any of our chances but that changed when Hardwick cleared a free kick with his fist and it fell to Joe Hinnigan. The defender sent his strike off target though.
Not long after the conclusion of the half time break a great Kevin Arnott free kick was saved well by the Newcastle goalkeeper and then on the hour mark Alan Brown had a header cleared off the line.
Our visitors came so close to breaking the deadlock twice after this though, Cassidy sending an effort over the bar first of all and then Stuart Boam shot wide from a corner.
Another chance, this time from Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson, was cleared off the line but a goal was finally found in the 73rd minute and thankfully it went our way.
Arnott crossed, Robson flicked it towards Cummins and the forward capitalised.
We rode out some Newcastle pressure before full time and came away with a valuable two points (three points for a win wouldn’t be introduced until 1981).
We’d go the rest of the season unbeaten and our next two saw wins away to Wrexham and Shrewsbury that allowed us to break into the top three. There was a bit of a scare when we only managed one win from the following four but a last day win at home to West Ham meant we would finish second on 54 points, just one point ahead of fourth placed Chelsea and one point below champions Leicester City.
