Wunderland 2 - 1 Newcastle

Roy Keane, who has matured more than any other as a young football manager, must have thought he was in Wonderland as his side strode to their first victory in this local Derby in eight years. Joe Kinnear was singing Keano's praises before the match, seeing him as a future Manchester United boss, and he could just be proved right, in the long run! However, for the time being the ex United captain is at Sunderland, and doing quite nicely.

Djibril Cisse is notably a bit of a character, but Keane was obviously aware of his potential when he signed him from Liverpool. In fact Cisse had not fitted in all that well at Anfield, but he is something of an individual who likes to do his own thing. If doing that results in goals, as it did again here, then he can probably be as individual as he likes. He positioned himself ideally, and stretched out well to put Sunderland ahead after 20 minutes. He celebrated his success with typical aplomb, with a series of acrobatic backward flips. In the shirt swapping procedures after the match, it was plain to see that he has more tattoos than another great football showman, David Beckham.

Please Click Here to visit the Worldsoccer-Online Web Site

The lead was not to last long as Martins teamed up with Ameobi, who levelled the scores on the half hour. From there on the game was finely balanced with both sides having scoring chances. However, it was Richardson, who cruelly had a goal disallowed last week, who scored the winner, after 75 minutes. To say that he blasted it in is an understatement, because it sped home like a cannon shell, with Given having no hope of stopping it.

With minutes to go Kinnear brought on the controversial Joey Barton, who not for the first time has sworn he will behave. He was understandably booed by the visiting fans, but was seemingly pelted with missiles of some sort while on the bench as a sub. Such behaviour is not much better than Barton's has been, but it is to be hoped that ex Manchester City man is as reformed as he says he is, and realizes that for him this really is the last chance saloon.

Tags:
Sunderland 2 - 1 Newcastle
soccer and football
Sunderland 2 - 1 Newcastle