Derby Day Demolition

Newcastle 5 Sunderland 1

Chris Hughton’s side inflicted the heaviest defeat on their neighbours since the 1950s at St. James’ Park this afternoon in an annihilation of the Mackems in the one hundred and thirty first Tyne-Wear Derby. The visitors came into the game unbeaten in seven league matches but signs of that form were completely absent at the home of their archrivals. Skipper Kevin Nolan scored a Halloween hat-trick and Shola Ameobi bagged a brace. With Sunderland not at the races Darren Bent’s late consolation was hardly deserved and precious few visiting supporters saw it.

This match had everything great about derby games in it: passion, flying tackles and a controversial decision. Newcastle’s pressure told with the half hour approaching when a Joey Barton corner was headed on and Nolan improvised with an overhead kick that put the ball beyond young Belgian stopper Simon Mignolet. A few minutes later the Magpies captain doubled his tally after Andy Carroll’s centre reached him and he slotted it in the far corner. Special mention should go to Ameobi who took the Sunderland defender out of the equation. Steve Bruce responded with a tactical substitution, matching Newcastle’s 4-4-2 formation. Off the back of his World Cup heroics for Ghana, the Ballon d’Or nominated forward Asamoah Gyan entered to partner Bent, but this would prove to be of no effect as the Mackems found themselves a third down by half time. With seconds to go before the whistle Nedum Onuoha had a coming together with Jonas Gutierrez, leaving referee Phil Dowd with no option to point to the spot. Ameobi smashed the ball in from twelve yards.

Early in the second half it was effectively game over for Sunderland when former Newcastle player Titus Bramble was dismissed for a foul on Carroll. For me he was not necessarily the last man, particularly when the run made by Newcastle’s number nine on goal was on the diagonal. The official must be certain no other player could get to the attacker. Although Michael Turner isn’t the quickest it was still possible. Dowd showed no hesitation in deciding to send Bramble off and coupled with a further six bookings, the Mackems can expect a fine from the Premier League for their lack of discipline. Two of these tallow cards were especially stupid, first was Phil Bardsley’s for a needless challenge on Fabricio Coloccini when the ball was harmlessly going out for a goal kick. The second was substitute John Mensah who received it for dissent when he might well have been punished in the same way for an earlier foul.

With twenty minutes remaining Ameobi got his second. Carroll himself was desperately unlucky not to score after heading Danny Simpson’s cross against the bar. His strike partner was there to net the rebound on the half volley. Nolan ensured he took home the match ball fifteen minutes from time after another Barton corner was flicked on to him to head home. Bent’s consolation in stoppage time came from a similar situation, the Newcastle defence having left him unmarked in the box. Bruce will demand a reaction from his players after such a heavy and hurtful defeat, whilst it seems the Toon players just love playing for manager Chris Hughton. The captain dedicated the win to him in a post-match interview and with the midweek disappointment of being dumped out of the Carling Cup by Arsenal now dispelled it seems baffling why some bookmakers have suspended the market on Hughton being the next top flight manager to get the sack.

Andy Carroll continues to press his claims for a place in the England squad. Without actually putting the ball in the net he did everything right, bringing his teammates into play, being aerially commanding, causing no end of problems for the Mackems defence. No other tall forward in the Premier League is playing anything like him at the minute and he can be ignored no longer. The question mark over his off-the-field conduct does remain, but now that he is being mentored by Nolan he might have a role model on which to base himself and emulate. Speaking of the Newcastle skipper, if former teammate at Bolton Kevin Davies can get into Fabio Capello’s plans, even as a last resort, then why not select the in-form midfielder? He has scored twice as many goals as Steven Gerrard this season so far and the upcoming friendly fixture against a French side under Laurent Blanc that is experimenting, the pair are both worth taking a look at and on form deserve to be capped.