Anthony Gordon put Newcastle United in front at St James' Park after Nick Woltemade intercepted a wild pass out of defence by Sunderland centre-back Luke O'Nien
Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports
Jamie Carragher blamed Regis Le Bris for the opening goal Newcastle United scored(Image: Sky Sports)
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Jamie Carragher believes Regis Le Bris is to blame for Newcastle United's opening goal against Sunderland in the Tyne–Wear derby.
The pundit spotted Luke O'Nien take a first touch that he has never seen a defender do before. Anthony Gordon opened the scoring at St James' Park after Nick Woltemade intercepted O'Nien's wayward pass as Sunderland tried to build-up from the back.
Their goalkeeper, Melker Ellborg, played a short goal-kick to his defender despite several Newcastle players surrounding the 18-yard box. Gordon and Harvey Barnes stood on the edge of the area, with Woltemade picking up Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka.
O'Nien fired a pass in the direction of his skipper, but it instead went to the outstretched left boot of the Newcastle man marking him. Woltemade then managed to direct the ball to Gordon, who dribbled past O'Nien before firing past Ellborg.
Carragher said on Sky Sports: "This is not on the players, it is on the manager. I've never seen a defender take a first touch like that before, so there is a plan.
"This goes back to players thinking for themselves. Is this the right thing to do early on at Newcastle? No!
"You can understand having a plan from a goal kick as Newcastle press so aggressively and trying to execute it well. But you also have to say brilliant from Gordon."
Michael Dawson, a fellow former defender, struggled to understand what O'Nein was trying to do. He said on Sky Sports: "I can't explain it. Take nothing away from the finish.
"We've tried to analyse it. Is he trying to play it long? Is he trying to play it to Brian Brobbey?
"There's a moment to play it short. You have to soak up the atmosphere. Think of the risk-to-reward."
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