Newcastle United 1-2 Sunderland Player Ratings: Black Cats Come Back To Win At The St. James' Park To Clinch Victory In the 2nd Tyne-Wear Derby Of The Season

In a stunning turnaround, Sunderland orchestrated a magnificent second-half comeback. They defeated their fierce rivals Newcastle United 2-1 at St. James' Park. This was a match that will be remembered for its passion and drama.

Newcastle United dominated the early exchanges, with Anthony Gordon's tenth-minute strike seeming to set the tone for a comfortable home win in this Premier League fixture.

A casual approach from the defender Luke O'Nien as he received the ball from Ellborg, which gave Woltemade the chance to intercept the pass and set up Gordon smoothly.

However, the narrative shifted dramatically after the first half. Sunderland emerged with renewed vigor and purpose, as they leveled the score through Chemsdine Talbi in the 57th minute.

Trai Hume's cross following a corner was directed towards goal from close range by Habib Diarra, which was initially blocked by Dan Burn on the line, but Talbi followed it up to make things level, no matter how scrappy it was.

Newcastle thought they had taken the lead in the 75th minute through a powerful header from Malick Thiaw, but Jacob Murphy's involvement in getting in the line of sight of Melker Ellborg meant that the goal was disallowed.

Brian Brobbey completed the incredible comeback in the 90th minute as he put the ball past Ramsdale in a second attempt, silencing the home crowd and sending the traveling fans into a frenzy. It was a classic derby performance, full of heart and determination.

Here are the Newcastle vs Sunderland Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways:

• Newcastle have now lost both of the Tyne-Wear derbies this season, extending their winless run against Sunderland to 10 games in the Premier League.
• Dan Burn and Sven Botman won the most duels in this game (7).
• Chris Rigg recorded the most successful tackles in this match (4).

Newcastle Player Ratings vs Sunderland

Have a look at the Newcastle Player Ratings from the Newcastle vs Sunderland Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Aaron Ramsdale - 6.5: We felt he couldn't do much about either goal. He made three saves, including a couple of decent stops. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, losing possession 11 times. A standard day at the office that was spoiled by his defence switching off.

Defenders

Kieran Trippier - 6.5: A typical Trippier performance while he was on the pitch. He created two chances and was solid defensively. What stood out to us was the decision to substitute him after 65 minutes. It felt like the team lost some leadership and attacking threat from the right after he departed.

Sven Botman - 7.5: He was immense before his unfortunate injury. He was defensively solid, won his duels, and was so unlucky to see his powerful header crash against the crossbar. From our perspective, his departure in the 54th minute was the turning point of the match. Newcastle missed his composure dearly.

Dan Burn - 7.5: A colossal performance from the big man. He made a staggering 16 clearances, including one off the line. He was a dominant force in the air, winning six aerial duels. It was a performance full of heart and fight, but it wasn't enough to secure the points.

Lewis Hall - 7.0: A very promising display from the young full-back. He was a constant threat down the left, delivering four accurate crosses and creating three chances. He sometimes looked a bit vulnerable defensively but his attacking output was impressive. A bright spark on a disappointing day.

Midfielders

Joelinton - 6.5: He brought his usual physicality and work rate to the midfield battle. We noticed his four interceptions which helped break up play. However, he was also a bit careless in possession, losing the ball seven times. A mixed bag of a performance.

Harvey Barnes - 6.0: We were disappointed by his contribution. He struggled to get into the game and failed to make an impact on the wing. With only one shot and losing most of his duels, it wasn't a surprise to see him substituted. He needs to offer more.

Anthony Elanga - 6.0: Much like Barnes, Elanga was largely anonymous. He missed a decent headed chance early on and struggled to influence the game. He was energetic but lacked the final product before being taken off.

Nick Woltemade - 7.0: He had a solid first half, capped with a well-timed assist for Gordon's goal. He created another big chance and looked lively. We were a little surprised to see him subbed off when the team needed a creative spark. He can be pleased with his contribution.

Jacob Ramsey - 6.5: He was neat and tidy in possession, completing 93% of his passes. He worked hard and recovered the ball well. However, from our perspective he didn't provide enough thrust or creativity from midfield to really hurt Sunderland.

Forwards

Anthony Gordon - 7.5: Newcastle's best attacker by a mile. He took his goal with clinical precision and was a constant threat with his pace and direct running. He faded a little in the second half as the team lost control, but he was always looking to make things happen. A top performance despite the result.

Manager

E. Howe - 5.0: From our viewpoint, he got this one wrong. The team looked comfortable until Botman's injury, but the reaction was poor. The substitutions didn't have the desired effect, and the team failed to wrestle back control of the game. Losing a lead at home in the derby is a major blow.

Sunderland Player Ratings vs Newcastle

Have a look at the Sunderland Player Ratings from the Newcastle vs Sunderland Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Melker Ellborg - 7.0: A solid performance from the keeper. He made three saves, including a crucial one to deny Dan Burn's close-range header. His command of the area gave his defenders confidence. He played a quiet but important role in this famous victory.

Defenders

Lutsharel Geertruida - 6.5: He had a tough assignment against Newcastle's attackers but held his own. He made five clearances and won most of his duels. He was solid and dependable, playing his part in a resilient defensive effort.

Luke O'Nien - 5.0: Oh dear. It was a day to forget for O'Nien. His error directly led to Gordon's goal, putting his team under immediate pressure. He looked shaky throughout and lost possession a staggering 17 times. A performance he will want to move on from quickly.

Omar Alderete - 6.0: He struggled physically, winning only three of his ten duels. He also picked up a booking for a clumsy challenge. He did make six clearances, but from our perspective, he looked like a weak link at times.

Trai Hume - 6.5: A feisty and energetic performance. He was booked for his troubles but won his tackles and tried to support the attack. He was a nuisance for the opposition, exactly what you want in a derby.

Midfielders

Chemsdine Talbi - 8.0: What a performance. He was a constant threat, and took his goal brilliantly to level the scores. It was the catalyst for the comeback. He never stopped running and his goal was a reward for his persistence. A fantastic display.

Chris Rigg - 8.5: Our man of the match. For someone so young to dominate a derby midfield is incredible. He created three chances, delivered three key passes, and had a 100% tackle success rate. He was the creative heart of the team and the best player on the pitch. A star is born.

Habib Diarra - 7.0: The unsung hero in midfield. He was tenacious in the tackle, winning all three he attempted. He worked tirelessly to protect the back four and provided a solid platform for the attacking players to shine. A disciplined and effective performance.

Noah Sadiki - 6.0: He put in a shift but struggled to make a real impact on the game. He lost possession a few too many times and was often on the periphery of the action. A quiet game for him.

Granit Xhaka - 7.0: The captain led by example. He was composed on the ball and helped control the tempo, especially in the second half. His experience and leadership were vital in guiding a young team to a famous victory. He was the glue that held it all together.

Forwards

Brian Brobbey - 7.0: A frustrating but ultimately decisive performance. For much of the game, he was poor, losing 11 duels and giving the ball away cheaply. But, forwards are judged on goals, and he scored the winner. It's that simple. He was in the right place at the right time to clinch the three points.

Manager

R. Le Bris - 8.0: A tactical masterclass. After going a goal down away from home, he kept his team calm. The second-half performance was a testament to his belief and tactical tweaks. He masterminded a historic comeback and deserves all the credit.

Man of the Match

Chris Rigg was the man of the match in this EPL game.

Worst Performer

Luke O'Nien was the worst performer in the Newcastle vs Sunderland match.