"A bad afternoon for Newcastle's German striker got significantly worse shortly after half-time when he cut an even more isolated, peripheral and forlorn figure in his own team's box after inadvertently heading a Nordi Mukiele cross past Aaron Ramsdale from six yards out. Woltemade's embarrassing own goal proved to be the unwitting match-winner in a contest that had until that point been high on full-blooded aggression but low on moments of real quality."
"It may have been the biggest show in town but the first Premier League derby between these sides in almost a decade wasn't the only local drama scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Less than a mile from the Stadium of Light, the matinee performance of Sleeping Beauty, the Christmas panto, was kicking off at the Empire Theatre. The cursed Princess Aurora will have done exceptionally well to have dozed through the febrile, visceral cacophony that rumbled across town from all four sides of the nearby cauldron of conflict when the players took to the pitch under a tifo boasting a ferocious black cat with fangs slavering and claws bared."
"Newcastle cowered accordingly and their extreme caution was all too apparent in an opening 45 minutes during which both sides huffed and puffed to no great effect but the hosts at least tried to attack, albeit through a series of hideously overhit crosses. Marooned up front due in no small part to a Newcastle approach that had Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga perform more as auxiliary fullbacks than wing"
Nick Woltemade appeared isolated and peripheral for much of the Wear-Tyne derby and inadvertently headed a Nordi Mukiele cross past his own goalkeeper after half-time. The own goal became the match-winner in a game marked by aggression but few moments of quality. Sunderland fans greeted Woltemade with a sarcastic ovation as he was substituted, securing an ironic place in their affections. Local atmosphere was intense, with a tifo and noisy crowds audible across town. Newcastle displayed extreme caution in the opening 45 minutes, attacking poorly with overhit crosses and deploying wing players as auxiliary fullbacks, leaving the striker marooned.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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