Sunderland and Newcastle United both headed into the Tyne-Wear Derby on Sunday lunchtime in indifferent form in the Premier League, with the visitors only winning one of their last five top-flight match-ups.
The Magpies were equally up-and-down in their form, with two defeats collected across their last five, with a third heading their way at the end of a memorable showdown between two of English football's deadliest rivals.
Sunderland-5
Sunderland just always seem to collect a result when the pressure is against them when the Tyne-Wear Derby falls on the calendar, with the late 2-1 win secured at St James' Park, meaning Regis Le Bris' men are unbeaten across their last 11 games against the Toon.
It was a real team effort that got Sunderland over the line, as Brian Brobbey prodded home the latest ever winning goal in a game between the two arch rivals, with 89 minutes on the clock.
Sunderland's standout performers vs Newcastle
The bragging rights were secured yet again when the bulldozing Dutchman was in the right place at the right time to tap home Enzo Le Fee's perfectly timed pass.
Brobbey was a focal point throughout that Sunderland could rely on in attack, with the former Ajax striker going on to win four duels for his troubles, regularly wrestling with the likes of Dan Burn.
brian-brobbey-sunderland
Alongside the strong number nine stealing the headlines at the death, Chemsdine Talbi was equally a handful down the left flank, as he initially equalised through another scrappy finish.
His partner in crime on the left, Trai Hume, was also a lively performer for the away side, with seven tackles and duels won, keeping the likes of Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes firmly at arm's length.
Trai-Hume
It was a performance of great strength and fortitude from the visitors, who could well have folded on another day, when Anthony Gordon smashed home an early opener, after Luke O'Nien's rash pass out from the back was intercepted.
Instead, Le Bris and Co just kept plugging away and got their just rewards with Brobbey notably stealing the show. That said, he arguably wasn't the best player on the park for Sunderland.
Sunderland have found a Clarke & Bellingham hybrid
Le Bris was rightly beaming from ear to ear at the full-time whistle, at the character on display from his much-changed side.
Indeed, the away side went into the intimidating affair without first-team goalkeeper Robin Roefs and centre-back Daniel Ballard. Moreover, Le Fee - who assisted Brobbey's golden winner - was only deemed fit enough to make a late cameo off the bench, meaning the Chris Rigg, in particular, was thrown in at the deep-end against the Magpies.
Rigg vs Newcastle
Stat
Minutes played
Goals scored
Assists
Touches
Shots
Accurate passes
Key passes
Accurate crosses
Successful dribbles
Tackles won
Ground duels
Rigg didn't serve up a display of a player who was only making his eighth Premier League start of the campaign, though, as the homegrown product terrorised the opposition defence throughout on the flanks, just as a certain Jack Clarke did during his Sunderland peak, when collecting 28 goals and 23 assists on Wearside.
He didn't grab a goal or assist, but he would amass three key passes, three accurate crosses, and 100% successful dribbles, as a constant thorn in the side of the Toon, to put in a dizzying Clarke-like display.
Chris-Rigg
Finally, it appears that the teenage midfielder has announced himself to a Premier League audience, having been showered with compliments galore in the EFL.
He won't want this display to be a one-off, as he now tries to solidify himself as a top-flight regular, much like ex-Sunderland star Jobe Bellingham has managed out in Germany, with Bundesliga titans Borussia Dortmund.
Like Rigg, Bellingham was a youthful skilful and tricky performer for the Black Cats, with seven goal contributions tallied up last season in the Championship, but he also possessed a clear mean streak, winning 5.9 duels per second-tier clash.
Rigg has this same fight present in his varied game, too, with a sublime nine tackles and duels won in total against Howe's feeble hosts.
Like it did with Jobe, the future looks extremely bright for the 18-year-old at the top of the English football pyramid, with the hope he stays put on Wearside for many more years, despite Manchester United previously being keen, instead of departing like Clarke and Bellingham before him.
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The Black Cats completed the double over their rivals in late fashion.