20 hours ago
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Eddie Howe is not the first, and is unlikely to be the last, manager outwitted by Régis Le Bris this season but few are likely to find the experience quite as painful.
Losing this most febrile of local derbies is a big deal and in past seasons prompted Ruud Gullit and, later, Alan Pardew swiftly stepping down form their posts as Newcastle manager. Howe has far too much credit in the bank to even contemplate such a notion but a reverse sealed by Nick Woltemade’s spectacular headed own goal was still intensely chastening for a coach whose side never really got going.
It left promoted Sunderland seventh, four points and five places ahead of their rivals who could struggle to achieve their stated aim of qualifying for the Champions League once more next season. On this evidence this term’s European exertions are taking a considerable toll.
The Stadium of Light has one of the largest press boxes in the Premier League but, for once, every seat was taken. Arabic, Bulgarian and Japanese were among the languages being spoken in the media areas as 12 international broadcasters from across the world set up camp.
Yet if north-east England and its football clubs were firmly back on the map this also remained an intensely parochial affair. The home fans delighted in chorusing: “If you hate the Mags stand up.” Newcastle had brought a special plaque with them and pinned it up above their dressing room door. “Get into them,” was the message but, before the sound and the fury erupted, Sunderland supporters took time to remember Gary Rowell.
To say the much adored Rowell, who died of leukaemia on Saturday at the age of 68, exactly 50 years since he made his Sunderland debut, remained a cult hero on Wearside is an understatement.
It is a very long time since February 1979 when Rowell scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 win at Newcastle but that feat will never be forgotten and the minute’s applause in his memory pre-kick-off was accompanied by a club anthem: “We all live in a Gary Rowell world.”
When it came to converting half chances Rowell was king but despite Sunderland’s early domination as Newcastle sat deep and ceded possession, neither goalkeeper was tested during a slightly cagey first half.
Indeed the interval was beckoning by the time the crowd watched the first real chance missed when Dan Ballard headed over the crossbar after meeting Granit Xhaka’s fine left-footed cross.
Howe had, unusually, given his players a day off on Friday following their return from the midweek trip to Bayer Leverkusen but that rest did not seem to have exerted the desired effect as they struggled to escape their own half.
Once again Sandro Tonali was strangely subdued in midfield while Lewis Miley, preferred to Joelinton alongside him, failed to make the most of his chance.
Newcastle’s manager had stressed precisely how important correct calibration of his team’s “arousal levels” was but, despite that “get into them” plaque, they looked understimulated. In contrast Sunderland’s Nordi Mukiele needed to mind his step a little after the former Paris Saint-Germain defender was booked for a late challenge on Dan Burn that necessitated the England defender’s replacement with Fabian Schär.
Further forward Woltemade had found himself horribly isolated but, at the outset of the second half, the Germany centre-forward stepped into some unwanted limelight. When Mukiele crossed from the right Woltemade connected with that delivery with a superb header. Unfortunately it was not the intended clearance but, instead, arced past Aaron Ramsdale and into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar. Small wonder the £69m striker always insists he prefers the ball to his feet.
Le Bris had reverted from a back five to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Enzo Le Fée in a deep-lying No 10 role and Le Fée played an important part in cramping Tonali’s style in a central department dictated largely by Xhaka.
Before too long, Tonali was withdrawn in a triple visiting substitution as Joe Willock, Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes replaced the Italian, Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon.
More than an hours had passed before Howe’s side managed their first effort on target but Bruno Guimarães shot tepidly at Robin Roefs. Omar Alderete’s brave block subsequently kept a Schär strike out but the Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor’s angled half volley drew a smart save from Ramsdale.
Howe was running out of switches to flick but he introduced Yoane Wissa at Woltemade’s expense. It made the little difference and, as the clock ticked down, an on-pitch scuffle erupted near the centre circle and spread to the touchline but, like far too much of Newcastle’s play, it came to nothing.
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