And while the Black Cats resisted the temptation to follow Newcastle’s lead and pose for a full team photo on the turf of their fiercest rivals, Chris Rigg couldn’t help himself.
After all of Sunderland’s jubilant players had headed down the tunnel following their full-time celebrations after Brian Brobbey’s 90th minute winner, Rigg re-emerged for a selfie in front of the away end.
A still image won’t be required to remember this moment for those high up in red and white at St James’ Park or those watching from Wearside. This was a goal, a moment and a win that will be talked about for a lifetime at the Stadium of Light.
So much for the talk of Sunderland’s season petering out. Port Vale is now forgotten. Sunderland are three points behind seventh placed Brentford with seven games to play and have done the double over their nearest and fiercest rivals. It’s now 11 Premier League derbies without defeat for the Black Cats, a record.
Eddie Howe this week said the aftermath of Newcastle’s Stadium of Light defeat in December was “long and painful”. The fall-out from that will be nothing compared to what Howe will brace himself for in the coming three weeks without a game.
For Sunderland, their seven remaining games are completely absent of pressure. This was a remarkable win in a remarkable campaign; a dream victory in a game that had started disastrously for the visitors.
And to think Sunderland battled back from behind to win without a whole host of first team stars. Yes, Newcastle were without Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, but Sunderland’s starting XI was missing the likes of Robin Roefs, Dan Ballard, Nordi Mukiele, Enzo Le Fee, Romaine Mundle, Bertrand Traore. The Black Cats were patched up. But all that really mattered on the day was that Brobbey was fit, for the striker battered and bullied Newcastle from start to finish and how fitting it was that he was the man who popped up with the 90th minute winner. The striker delivered a derby display for the ages and is now a Sunderland hero.
Early in the second half on Sunday, with Newcastle leading 1-0 against a Sunderland side that had lost their last two games and only scored one goal from open play in their last six, substitute Jacob Murphy urged his teammates on the pitch to up the intensity.
The message didn’t get through. Newcastle were punished for letting the game drift after the break, allowing Chemsdine Talbi to cancel out Anthony Gordon’s 10th minute opener before Brobbey won it.
The fact it took just six minutes for referee Anthony Taylor to head to the dugouts to have a word with Jason Tindall told of the fact Sunderland’s approach very quickly irked those in black and white.
To put it politely, Sunderland were in no rush. That was always going to be the case. Regis Le Bris all but confirmed in his pre-match press conference that the blueprint would be the way they approached the recent win at Leeds. Basically, to spoil it, to frustrate, to try and slow Newcastle down. All completely understandable from Sunderland’s perspective.
What wasn’t part of the plan was gifting Newcastle a leg up and an opening goal inside 10 minutes. What was a disaster for the Black Cats was a dream for the Magpies, a gift: Melker Ellborg playing short to Luke O’Nien, who played just as short to Nick Woltemade on the edge of the penalty area, a mess of an attempted clearance. Woltemade teed up Gordon, who did the rest.
But Sunderland dusted themselves down after their nightmare start and responded well, all of their promising attacking work going through the brilliant Brobbey. Talbi had a shot clawed away by Aaron Ramsdale, Rigg lashed over and then had a shot blocked after a Brobbey step-over.
But only the woodwork prevented Newcastle from doubling their lead when Botman’s header bounced back of Ellborg’s left post.
Newcastle’s game-management has been a major this season and their start to the second half was slow. They paid the ultimate price.
The tearful Botman was forced off injured and replaced by Malick Thiaw, who was beaten to a high ball by Brobbey in the build-up to a chance that saw Ramsdale push a Rigg effort around the post. From the resulting corner, Ramsdale could only punch clear as far as Hume, whose instinctive strike hit the chest of Diarra and was bundled home by Talbi.
Anxiety in St James’ Park turned to fear. Noah Sadiki was waiting for the latest Brobbey knock-down but fired straight at Ramsdale. Newcastle substitute Jacob Murphy was penalised for a foul on Ellborg when Thiaw thought he’d headed Newcastle back into the lead.
Gordon missed a good chance then Rigg tackled his own man as Xhaka was about to pull the trigger from the edge of the box. Soon after, Rigg was posing in front of the away fans.