FOOTBALL: Newcastle 1-1 Sunderland (01.02.09): Black Cats feel agrieved after 'terrible' penalty decision

This was a game of two halves if ever there was one. Sunderland dominated the first-half, going ahead through a Djibril Cisse goal just after half an hour. Newcastle equalised in the second half, through a debatable penalty, but neither side showed the class to win the game.

Sunderland started brightly but had to wait until the 20th minute until they really threatened Steve Harper's goal. Kieron Richardson's 25 yard free-kick crashed against the left-hand post and rebounded eventually to Kenwyne Jones, whose shot was cleared off the line by debutant Kevin Nolan. Both players were in the news this week: Jones signing a lucrative new contract at the Stadium of Light, while Nolan was signed from Bolton Wanderers for £4 million.

The Magpies replied moments later, when Andy Carroll's looping header struck the top of the crossbar. Otherwise, the Sunderland midfield was linking up well and they made the pressure count in the 33rd minute, when Kenwyne Jones ducked under a Dean Whithead lob into the box and Djibril Cisse, who was just onside, saw his first shot saved by Steve Harper but steered the rebound into an empty net. Andy Carroll fired a shot just wide 5 minutes before half-time but Sunderland looked comfortable.

However, the Black Cats completely lost their way in the second-half as Newcastle dominated possession . Their poor play was typified by Steed Malbranque and Kieron Richardson's inability to keep the ball in midfield, after looking good before the break. Sunderland were not helped by the injury to goalscorer Djibril Cisse, who hobbled off after mistiming a tackle. Kenwyne Jones looked like he may be following his strike-partner down the tunnel, after a crunching tackle from Sebastien Bassong, who was superb in the Newcastle defence. But Jones stayed on.

Jonas Gutierrez ran his socks off for the Magpies, tormenting Sunderland full-back Phil Bardsley, who had picked up an early booking. Named man-of-the-match at the end, the Argentinian winger's purposeful runs and pressure culminated eventually in a Newcastle goal. Midway through the second-half, local boy Steven Taylor burst into the box shadowed by Steed Malbranque. Taylor appeared to stick out his left leg and cause the Frenchman to stumble, but in the referee Howard Webb's opinion, Malbranque's somewhat clumsy fall which knocked over the Newcastle number 27 was a foul, and the Premier League's top referee pointed to the spot. Shola Ameobi smashed in the penalty.

Despite the perceived injustice, Sunderland did not improve after the goal, continuing to give the ball away cheaply to Joe Kinnear's team. That said, Sunderland did almost snatch the game. In the 84th minute, substitute and former Newcastle man, Michael Chopra, stole the ball from Fabricio Coliccini and ran into the left-hand side of the box; Steve Harper and the goal beckoning. However, the man who scored for Newcastle against Sunderland in a Tyne-Wear derby a few seasons ago, attempted an unlikely cross to Kenwyne Jones and missed his target. The conspiracy theories started.

Sunderland could also have snatched it in the final minute of added time, when a poor Newcastle clearance fell to the feet of Andy Reid, another substitute, who took it down and volleyed just wide. It would have been the first time Sunderland have beaten Newcastle home and away in one season since 1967.

Ricky Sbragia is probably a little happier than Joe Kinnear with this result, especially as the Balck Cats began the game three points ahead of their local rivals in the league. But judging by Danny Collins comments after the game, labelling the penalty decision as "terrible," Sunderland feel that they should have made the short trip home with all three points.