English FA Premiership/Newcastle United 3 Sunderland 2: Breathlessness is usually guaranteed from a derby but there were times yesterday when this epic tested all the senses. Four goals in the space of seven minutes and 33 seconds in the latter part of the first half - two from each team - typified the excitement. Emre Belozoglu's 63rd-minute winner was beautiful but it would be stretching credulity to say Newcastle deserved all three points.
Sunderland's performance merited a draw. Playing through the excellent Dean Whitehead, the visitors outpassed United in the second half - but Shay Given made a fingertip save from Stephen Elliott on 52 minutes, Steven Taylor cleared a Liam Lawrence cross-cum-shot off the line in the 78th and five minutes later Elliott hit the bar with a lob. Had that gone in it would have been their third equaliser. Mick McCarthy called the last attempt "the difference".
Graeme Souness, after United's third win in 10 Premiership games, refused to use the word "relief" but his demeanour on the touchline said otherwise. After a bleak 0-0 draw at Portsmouth, then the 1-0 defeat at Wigan, this was must-win for the manager.
Emre's fitness continued to look in question when his ankle was clattered by Whitehead after 34 seconds. The Sunderland player was booked but he retained his discipline thereafter and he and the Turk were the best two players on the pitch. In the 11th minute Emre produced the first on-target effort and he and Charles N'Zogbia combined shortly after but neither Shola Ameobi nor Alan Shearer could get on the end of the move.
But at least Newcastle were passing and moving and it was unsurprising that they took the lead or that Emre was the provider. The Turk supplied the 34th-minute corner from which Ameobi placed a meaty header past Kelvin Davis.
Newcastle fans could not enjoy their lead. Ninety-one seconds later Liam Lawrence skipped away from Scott Parker and delivered a shot that beat Given from 25 yards.
Less than two minutes later Newcastle were in front again. When Stephen Carr's cross careered over the top of all in the Sunderland area it seemed as though any danger had gone. But N'Zogbia dinked a first-time lob back in from the left and Ameobi lunged above Steve Caldwell. Though he made minimal contact, the ball hit Caldwell's forehead and flew into the bottom corner.
Again Newcastle supporters could not relish their advantage. Four minutes later Elliott collected a header from Whitehead, shrugged off Parker's tackle and switched the ball to his left foot. What followed was unexpected, though, Elliott striking a shot into Given's top right-hand corner.
Thus it was 2-2 at half-time and, with none of Emre, Solano and Parker fully fit, Whitehead and Tommy Miller took a grip of the second half. Chances were to come and go for Sunderland but at the other end Caldwell fouled Ameobi and up stepped Emre.
From 27 yards the Turkish midfielder bent a superb free-kick in off Davis's left-hand post. The muslim is observing Ramadan but thousands, including Souness, were toasting Emre's name on Tyneside last night.
