Sunderland 0-3 Newcastle: Mags batter Mackems in huge win for Howe

After a seven and a half year wait, Newcastle United responded to recent setbacks with a dominant win Tyne and Wear derby win over Sunderland.

It was a professional, mature and dominant display over the Mackems, who looked a few levels below Eddie Howe's Mags as we cruised to a 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light thanks to a first half own goal from Dan Ballard and second half brace from Alexander Isak; who netted both in front of 6,000 Geordies in the away end.

It feels like a huge moment in our season and just what Eddie Howe and the players needed on the back of a brutal December. The pressure was on and the home side had 'nothing to lose', but it was men vs boys. They were outplayed from start to finish on a day that can hopefully kickstart our season.

Howe made two changes from Monday's 4-2 defeat at Anfield, seeing Kieran Trippier and Miguel Almiron replace Tino Livramento and Lewis Miley. This saw Joelinton drop back into a midfield three, Miggy return to the right wing and Burn continue at left-back against our local rivals.

We dominated the first half and didn't give the Mackems a sniff. We had 72% of the ball, were winning our midfield battles, looking after the ball much better and limited them to just one shot in 45 minutes (zero on target) in the opening 45 minutes.

Longstaff had three chances - the biggest one with his head in the opening few minutes - and failed to convert each one of them, but our dominance told and we took a deserved lead through a Sunderland own goal. Bruno's ball down the left to Joelinton was perfectly weighted, the Brazilian burst past Hume and his wicked cross to Isak was sliced in by Ballard; who almost brought down the Swede when bursting clear on goal moments earlier.

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It looked like a Premier League vs Championship and we were good value for our lead, even if we hadn't quite hit first gear against a Sunderland side who just couldn't keep the ball or cope with our physicality.

Almiron has had his critics of late and almost volleyed home after Bruno's back-post pick out, but he was doing a good job in and out of possession, tracking back well to keep Clarke quiet and linking up nicely with Trippier; who had plenty of joy on the overlap.

One concern before the break was Joelinton holding his hamstring. He came out for the second half but quickly signalled to be substituted - but not until we took a 2-0 lead! Miggy's pressing forced Ekwah into an error and the Paraguayan kept his head to square to Isak, who did the rest by slotting home. A dream start to the second half and the Mackems punished, giving us a two-goal advantage.

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Miley replaced big Joe and Sunderland responded with their first period of pressure, where Pritchard's long-range effort clipped the bar before Gordon went into the book following some handbags with Hume and Ballard.

O'Nien then made a last-ditch block to deny Almiron a deserved goal as we went within a whisker of making it 3-0. The game was in danger of bubbling over as Bruno and O'Nien then picked up cynical yellows, yet we remained in control and went close once again as Gordon fired a right-footed effort just wide in front of the Toon Army.

Sunderland fans were heading for the exits five minutes from time and it was probably just as well, as Gordon was hacked down by Ballard for a 90th minute penalty. Isak stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way for his 13th of the season. 3-0 Newcastle and absolutely priceless scenes at the Newcastle United end, just as thousands of Mackems scurried out.

Every Mag played their part, but Bruno ran the show in midfield, Miggy was superb on his return to the side, Trippier dealt with Clarke effortlessly, Gordon was back to something near his best down the left and Isak showed his class in big moments to bury the Mackems.

Next up, Man City at St James' Park next weekend; a game that has a completely different feel about it following today's well deserved derby win! GET IN!

STARTING 11: Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Gordon.

SUBS: Karius, Lascelles, Krafth, Dummett, Hall, Livramento, Ritchie, Miley, Parkinson.