Sunderland 2 Newcastle Utd 1:FOOTBALL IS always a game of risk, but this Wear-Tyne derby was suffused with some exceptional gambles. None seemed bigger or backfired more than the decision to enforce minimal segregation between rival supporters - except, perhaps, the failure to offer Joey Barton greater protection when the Newcastle United substitute, and black sheep, warmed up.
So 29 arrests were made on a day which ended with a number of home fans spilling on to the pitch before scuffling with a small group of Toon Army rivals. Outside the stadium a police horse suffered minor burns when a moron threw a firework.
Earlier, a man was arrested for escaping the stands and taunting Shay Given after the goalkeeper's concession of the winner, a stunning free-kick from Kieran Richardson. Meanwhile, Barton was showered by missiles and spittle as he limbered up.
The controversial midfielder attracted censure as well as sympathy for brazenly kissing the Newcastle badge on his tracksuit after a policeman advised him to restrict his stretching exercises to the technical area.
Significantly, Given admitted he felt tempted to retaliate.
"A few idiots came on to the pitch near me after Richardson's goal," he explained. "It was unsavoury and I got abuse. It was hard to keep my temper. It got close to something happening. You feel low enough after conceding the goal, so the last thing you want is some idiot roaring abuse in your face."
The Football Association has launched an inquiry and is threatening lifetime bans. Nonetheless, ugly as certain moments were, things could hardly be said to have descended into 1970s-style anarchy. A police superintendent reflected: "The vast majority of fans were well behaved, 29 arrests out of a capacity crowd is low."
Similarly Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn emphasised the bigger picture after Newcastle's first defeat on Wearside for 28 years.
"Saturday was a fantastic day," he said. "A minority should not spoil it."
It is understood his club will not face FA sanctions. Indeed, Sunderland - who, having sold the game out, could not leave banks of empty seats between rival fans - suggested the local constabulary might have been culpable. "There were 500 police on duty, segregation is a matter for them," said a spokesman.
As for the day's gamblers, home manager Roy Keane did best. With the score 1-1 after 57 minutes he withdrew Dwight Yorke, his impressive midfielder, introduced Kenwyne Jones and switched from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2.
Newly rehabilitated following a serious knee injury, the half-fit striker unnerved Newcastle's defence and helped El Hadji Diouf win the dead-ball chance from which Richardson struck the unstoppable winner over the wall and into the top corner.
Sunderland had led on 20 minutes when Djibril Cisse lashed Steed Malbranque's cross-shot beyond Given, but slack marking from the otherwise excellent Anton Ferdinand soon permitted Shola Ameobi to head Joe Kinnear's side level following Geremi's free-kick.
Ferdinand was far from the only notable in a game where Malbranque, Richardson, Cisse, Diouf and Pascal Chimbonda all shone, and the latter three celebrated on the pitch long after the final whistle.
"They've plugged into what we're all about," said Keane of the trio. "Every signing is a risk, but I've not found them hard at all. I've signed other people who I'd have bet my life would have done well but, within a week, I'm thinking 'You're not for me'."
Kinnear insists his side are not doomed. "There's no chance we can go down," the club's interim manager said. "We have too much quality."
Famous last words.
