Newcastle could have done with a cage to contain Brian Brobbey. But, again, it’s their own defenders who need locking up. In fact, chuck in the midfield, if you can find it.
Sunderland’s striker, all muscle and menace, bullied the home side. His final insult was the match-winner in the 90th minute, and how he deserved it.
The goal had been coming from the moment team-mate Chemsdine Talbi equalised 12 minutes into the second half.
Granit Xhaka passed through the middle of the pitch, a stretch of unoccupied green to rival the nearby Leazes Park in size, and the ball found Noah Sadiki. His drop-off to the supporting Enzo Le Fee was not great, but the subsequent cross was, fizzed low to the near post.
Brobbey was alert to it, Tino Livramento was asleep. Even when the first poke was saved by Aaron Ramsdale, Livramento dozed through the alarm. It meant Brobbey was left free to turn in from two yards out. He tore off his shirt as if at a weigh-in – but this was no contest, he had been sparring a division above all afternoon.
There were seven minutes of added time but, by now, Newcastle were a mess, a patchwork quilt of starters, subs and, to be brutal, slackers. They were gifted a 10th-minute lead but did not know what to do with it.
There was no control in midfield, little cohesion in defence and, in attack, composure evaporated the moment Anthony Gordon applied a fine finish for the opener.
Brian Brobbey fires past Aaron Ramsdale late on to give Sunderland a famous victory
Brobbey’s goal means Newcastle are without a Tyne-Wear derby win in the league since 2011
And this was the derby Eddie Howe and his players could not lose, not after Wednesday’s 7-2 defeat in Barcelona and, more so, not after December’s 1-0 defeat at Sunderland. They lost again – they last won a Tyne-Wear derby in the league in 2011 – and they can have no complaints.
There were boos on full-time and they will echo through the entirely of the international break and beyond.
It was a tumble-dryer of a start – all noise, heat and motion. Little of it made any sense. Then, on 10 minutes, Gordon broke the cycle. For Sunderland defender Luke O’Nien, it was a horror show. One man’s X-rated, however, is a rival’s love story.
O’Nien attempted to play a pass from his six-yard area after a short goal-kick but found Woltemade, and the German’s interception found Gordon.
There was a chance for O’Nien to make good on his error but what he did was bad, charging towards Gordon who gleefully skipped by. Reinvented as a striker in recent weeks, Gordon looked like one here, finishing low across Melker Ellborg.
This was the start Newcastle needed after the pain of Barcelona, and Sunderland’s defending was like theirs had been in the second half at the Nou Camp.
Chemsdine Talbi scored the crucial equaliser for Sunderland
Anthony Gordon had given the hosts an early lead following Luke O’Nien’s mistake
The difference was that Sunderland did not collapse like a pack of cards. Rather, they played their joker – Brobbey. They had one tactic and only needed one – hit the big man, and he’ll hit anyone who comes near him.
Brobbey versus fellow Dutchman Sven Botman should have taken place inside ropes, not a football stadium. There were no tulips here, this was clog on cheeseboard.
When Botman was forced off early in the second half, after an accidental kick in the face from Brobbey, the Sunderland striker sought a new victim.
On came Malick Thiaw and, immediately, Brobbey won a header from which Chris Rigg’s shot was turned behind for a corner. From the corner, Talbi scored after the ball had bounced around the goalmouth. The visitors wanted it more.
Sunderland looked the more likely winners from that point on – the surprise was that it took until the 90th minute for the goal to arrive. There was no such shock at the identity of the scorer.
