Boss gets it right - and pantomime villain's on point

SUNDERLAND picked up their biggest win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle to claim the first bragging rights of the season.

- By MATTY HEWITT Football writer [e-mail]

Nick Woltemade’s own goal was the difference in a typically cagey affair. Despite the lack of quality in the first half, the game lived up to its billing, and Regis Le Bris got his plan spot on, once again.

Nordi Mukiele was Sunderland’s star performer and an absolute nightmare for Newcastle to deal with all afternoon. His antics rattled the Magpies, and they made their feelings clear towards the end of the game.

Here are the key talking points from the Wear-Tyne Derby.

Sunderland's hesitation and second-half tweak

If there was one criticism of Sunderland’s first-half performance, it was that they didn’t offer enough in the final third despite having so much of the ball.

Newcastle United’s setup meant Le Bris’ side had a lot of possession, but they did very little with it, other than recycle and try to come down the opposite flank.

The Black Cats tried to probe down the wings, but Eddie Howe's side got men behind the ball and packed the middle of the pitch.