Shania Hayles of Newcastle United scores Newcastle's opening goal during the Barclays Women's Championship match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park
Shania Hayles of Newcastle United scores Newcastle's opening goal during the Barclays Women's Championship match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park
Shania Hayles' goal eight minutes after coming on was the difference as Newcastle United did the double over Sunderland. Hayles' strike on 77 minutes was enough to seal the victory for Becky Langley's side, who go above Sunderland into sixth in the table.
In front of a record crowd of 38,502 at a noisy St James' Park, Langley was sent off before full-time, seemingly for holding onto the ball too long. It was part of a tense finish on a great afternoon for the home side.
For Sunderland, they never really got going and were deservedly beaten in the end. Mel Reay's side have now lost successive league games. Here's how both sides rated:
Newcastle United ratings
Claudia Moan - 6
Did not have an awful lot to do. Distribution was good and commanded area well. Smothered well from Scarr in the second-half.
Lia Cataldo - 7
Was up and down the right wing all game, combining well with both Lumsden and Gregory. Kept Flannery and Corbyn quiet.
Deanna Cooper - 7
Newcastle's rock at the back. First to every ball that came into the box and marshalled the Newcastle defence brilliantly.
Charlotte Wardlaw - 6
Helped keep Sunderland's attackers quiet.
Demi Stokes - 7
As with Cataldo, Stokes never stopped running up and down the left wing. Showed some nice touches and was unlucky to see a first-half header loop over.
Amber-Keegan Stobbs (C) - 7
A true captain's performance full of grit and steel. Not afraid to put a tackle in and played some lovely forward passes.
Rachel Furness - 6
Helped things tick over in midfield
Beth Lumsden - 8
Always looked a threat, no matter what wing she was on. Played some dangerous balls into the box and ran Brown and Stapleton ragged.
Jasmine McQuade - 7
Solid performance in the centre of the pitch. Overpowered Sunderland's midfield.
Freya Gregory - 6
Linked up extremely well with Demi Stokes down the left and interchanged wings well with Lumsden. Brought off on 69 minutes. Perhaps unlucky to be taken off
Emily Murphy - 7
Led the line well and played a fantastic ball through to Hayles who broke the deadlock. Never stopped running.
Subs
Shania Hayles (for Gregory 69) - 8
Changed the game when she came on. Took her goal extremely well. Curved her run to stay onside following Emily Murphy's pass, cut inside Stapleton and fired into the bottom corner.
Hannah Greenwood (for Cooper 78): N/A
Katie Barker (for Lumsden 90) : N/A
Amy Andrews (for Murphy) : N/A
Sunderland AFC ratings
Demi Lambourne - 7
Made a fantastic save inside two minutes to deny Emily Murphy. Did not have an awful lot to do, but dealt with crosses and corners into the box well.
Jessica Brown - 5
Failed to deal with either of Lumsden or Gregory.
Amy Goddard - 5
Some good clearances. Could do nothing about the goal.
Brianna Westrup (C) - 6
One of Sunderland's better players. Cleared one off the line. Nothing she could do about the goal.
Jessie Stapleton - 4
Booked for a foul on Lumsden. Lost Hayles for goal.
Mary Corbyn - 5
Put in a few good tackles in midfield, but was overpowered on too many occasions by Newcastle's midfield.
Natasha Fenton - 4
Game seemed to pass her by. Subbed for Jenna Dear.
Keira Flannery - 4
Did not offer an awful lot. Gave ball away a fair few times.
Katie Kitching - 5
Dealt with well by Newcastle's backline. Created second-half chance for Watson.
Emily Scarr - 6
Katy Watson - 5
Fired over in the second-half after great work by Kitching. Took off with just over 15 minutes to go.
Subs
Libbi McInnes (for Watson 73) - 4
Could not influence the game.
Jenna Dear (for Fenton 73) - 4
As with McInnes, not enough time to help influence the game.
Louise Griffiths (for Corbyn 90): : N/A
Mary McAteer (for Scarr 90) : N/A