Taylor takes on hero role for Magpies

Sunderland 0 Newcastle 1:Ryan Taylor became Newcastle's latest derby hero after firing the Magpies to victory at Sunderland with a superb free-kick.

The former Wigan defender curled his 62nd-minute effort over keeper Simon Mignolet to win a hard-fought encounter which the Black Cats dominated for long periods.

Tim Krul and Mignolet had both earlier made fine saves, but the visitors were denied a clear 14th-minute penalty when Sebastian Larsson handled Joey Barton’s header on the line.

The home side made all the early running with Newcastle pinned back deep inside their own half, and goalkeeper Krul was relieved to see Jack Colback’s eighth-minute cross elude Asamoah Gyan in front of goal.

But the home side had a major escape with 14 minutes gone when Shola Ameobi met Yohan Cabaye’s corner and Barton flicked the ball towards goal, where Larsson appeared to block it with his arm on the line.

Referee Howard Webb consulted his assistant amid concerted appeals for a penalty from the visitors before awarding a corner, with replays suggesting the officials had got it badly wrong.

The Black Cats continued to enjoy the greater share of the possession and with Colback prospering when he pulled wide to get behind full back Danny Simpson on the left, they looked the more likely to open the scoring.

Gyan was presented with a half-chance from Larsson’s 27th-minute corner, but the ball was slightly behind him and he dragged his volley wide.

But home goalkeeper Mignolet had to pull off a fine save to keep his side level 13 minutes before the break.

Cabaye was allowed to make ground after picking up possession inside the Sunderland half, and the Frenchman unleashed a viciously-swerving effort which the Belgian had to tip over.

The home side resumed where they had left off after the break and won a 47th-minute corner when Fabricio Coloccini cleared Stephane Sessegnon’s right-wing cross. Larsson took the set-piece, but his ball in was easily cleared by Barton.

There was little shape to the game as both sides struggled to retain possession, although Anton Ferdinand had to get in an important 55th-minute block to keep out Barton’s shot after he cut inside from the left.

Jonas Gutierrez embarked upon his first run of any real menace with 61 minutes gone when he surged into the box and curled in a right-foot shot which Mignolet could only palm away, and it was a second attack by the Argentinian which led to the opening goal seconds later.

Gutierrez was felled by Lee Cattermole as he headed for the penalty area and Webb awarded a free-kick.

Ryan Taylor took charge and curled a right-foot shot over Mignolet and into the corner to spark delirious celebrations on the pitch, on the visitors’ bench and among the travelling supporters.

Cattermole was cautioned for a dreadful 67th-minute challenge on Gutierrez and Barton and Phil Bardsley suffered the same fate after clashing in the aftermath.

Sessegnon curled a dangerous 74th-minute cross to the near post, but saw Krul claim with ease, and Gyan fired wildly over from an impossible angle seconds later with their efforts becoming increasingly desperate.

Gardener looped an 80th-minute header straight to Krul and even the arrival of new signing Connor Wickham for the final eight minutes could not deny Newcastle as Bardsley was dismissed at the death for a second bookable offence.