Newcastle U 1 Sunderland 1:GRACE UNDER pressure was conspicuous by its absence during an afternoon featuring two red cards – one shown to Sunderland's Lee Cattermole for foul and abusive language after the final whistle – eight bookings and a managerial slanging match, reports Louise Taylor at the Sports Direct Arena.
Fortunately for Alan Pardew, who got involved in an unseemly second-half touchline spat with Martin O’Neill, Shola Ameobi proved one of the few participants to keep his cool. “That’s why I love Shola to bits,” said Pardew after watching the striker outwit Wayne Bridge before scoring a stoppage-time equaliser.
Earlier Nicklas Bendtner had given Sunderland a first-half lead from the penalty spot, Andy Woodman, Newcastle United’s goalkeeping coach had been ordered to the stands, Stephane Sessegnon was sent off for elbowing Cheik Tiote in the throat and Demba Ba missed a penalty.
In between all this aggro St James’ Park was treated to a brilliant second-half display from the home substitute Hatem Ben Arfa whose arrival on the right wing altered the afternoon’s power balance and some outstanding defending from the Sunderland centre-half Michael Turner.
The tone was set after 45 seconds. Cattermole’s ghastly late, two-footed tackle on Tiote left Newcastle’s Ivorian enforcer in a crumpled heap and a yellow card flashing before the Sunderland captain’s eyes. A little later Tiote looked fortunate to go unpunished after appearing to stamp on Cattermole’s ankle.
Such cameos proved entirely emblematic of an encounter further enlivened by the moment when James McClean’s reckless late challenge on Danny Simpson resulted in the winger and the full-back literally touching foreheads before Tim Krul’s intervention.
With numerous players bundling in, anarchy beckoned but, eventually, Mike Dean restored order, booking both protagonists.
At this stage there had been more cards than shots on target. Things changed when Sunderland deservedly won a penalty after Mike Willamson tugged Turner’s shirt so hard he hauled the centre-half over in the box and Bendtner fired a superb spot-kick into the bottom corner.
Everything changed when Sessegnon was sent off for elbowing Tiote. If the forward could have no complaints when he saw red, the Ivorian’s am-dram collapse followed by a few minutes spent writhing in apparent agony rather over-egged things.
Terrorised by Ben Arfa, Sunderland were suddenly defending for their lives, surviving assorted penalty appeals along the way. One involved Ben Arfa tumbling in the face of fleeting contact with McClean but the referee adjudged the Frenchman to have dived.
Then, when Newcastle finally won a penalty following Campbell’s wild challenge on Ameobi, Pardew and O’Neill required separation after squaring up. Ba stepped forward but Mignolet saved his kick. Cue Ameobi, who enhanced his enhanced his Tyne-Wear tally when Williamson flicked on Yohan Cabaye’s stoppage-time left-wing cross. Dodging Bridge, Ameobi half-volleyed his seventh such derby goal – a record bettered only by Jackie Milburn – through Mignolet’s legs.
