Derby points shared between Sunderland and Newcastle after Demba Ba own goal

Demba Ba's late own goal rescued Sunderland a 1-1 draw with 10-man Newcastle United in another feisty Wear-Tyne derby.

It took less than three minutes for an eagerly-anticipated encounter to catch fire, although it did so in painful style for the home fans. Hatem Ben Arfa found space down the right and played the ball in to Ba, whose shot from a tight angle was blocked by goalkeeper Simon Mignolet at his near post. However, the Belgium international could only turn the ball into the path of the fast-arriving Cabaye at the edge of the box and his low drive was true and powerful and flew into the back of the net to send the travelling fans behind the goal into delirious celebrations.

Possession

Sunderland's response was immediate and Mike Williamson had to intervene to prevent Fletcher from reaching Sebastian Larsson's teasing right-wing cross four minutes later. But for all the Black Cats were enjoying the greater share of possession, they lacked penetration and Krul had to field Larsson's 17th minute free-kick, but little else. O'Shea made an important block to keep out Ba's volley seconds later as Newcastle continued to show the greater threat. However, the game changed with 25 minutes gone when Newcastle's midfield enforcer Tiote was sent back to the dressing room after careering into Fletcher. Referee Martin Atkinson had already blown for a foul on the Ivorian by Jack Colback, but his momentum carried him into the Scotland international and as the home fans bayed for blood, the official produced a red card, much to Tiote's astonishment. The visitors temporarily re-organised by dropping striker Ba into a deeper role, but manager Pardew eventually introduced James Perch in an attempt to plug the gap with derby specialist Shola Ameobi reluctantly making way. In the meantime, Johnson had curled a left-foot effort high and wide, and full-back Craig Gardner had smashed a 35th minute free-kick inches wide and seen another effort blocked by Williamson's backside. But the Magpies might have increased their lead four minutes before the break when Coloccini's shot from a well-worked corner was blocked and Ba acrobatically hooked the ball over the crossbar after controlling the rebound. Sunderland returned in determined mood and went close within two minutes of the restart when Fletcher headed across goal from another Larsson cross. But Newcastle were refusing to sit back and Mignolet had to pluck a deflected Ba shot out of the air after Cabaye had found him 25 yards out.

Lightning break

The home side were once again dominating possession, but a succession of poor final balls let the visitors off the hook with the locals growing increasingly restless. Newcastle were defending deep and trying to hit their hosts on the break, although as the clock ticked towards the hour-mark, the traffic was largely one-way. Coloccini deflected McClean's 64th minute shot wide seconds before O'Neill withdrew the ineffectual Sessegnon to send on former Magpies striker Louis Saha with the temperature rising inside the stadium. The pressure was mounting all the time, but with Coloccini and Williamson in commanding form at the back, Krul continued to enjoy enviable protection. Newcastle could have increased their lead nine minutes from time when Cabaye and Ben Arfa staged a lightning break before the latter fed Ba, whose shot was blocked by O'Shea. Saha might have levelled seconds later, but fired into the side-netting from McClean's flick-on, but redemption was close at hand. O'Shea met Larsson's deep free-kick with a header which hit Ba and flew past Krul into the net to allow the home fans to breathe again. McClean and Gardner both went close in a late flurry, but Newcastle saw out time to return to Tyneside the happier of the two sides, but wondering what might have been.

Sunderland	Team Statistics	Newcastle United
1	Goals	1
0	1st Half Goals	1
1	Shots on Target	5
10	Shots off Target	1
10	Blocked Shots	5
8	Corners	4
14	Fouls	16
3	Offsides	0
0	Yellow Cards	4
0	Red Cards	1
84	Passing Success	70.5
26	Tackles	24
73.1	Tackles Success	66.7
65.6	Possession	34.4
61.8	Territorial Advantage	38.2
451	Total Passes	241
41	Total Crosses	12
159	Lost Balls	158
57	Recoveries	52
59.2	1st Half Poss.	40.8
71.2	2nd Half Poss.	28.8