Let’s bring these yobs to justice

Just when you thought the spirits at the Stadium of Light couldn’t sink any lower...

At least this time Sunderland had little to do with the abysmal scenes at the home of the Black Cats.

In fact, it is the Sunderland fans who emerged from the whole sorry episode at the Under-23 derby clash with the utmost credit.

While an unwelcome element of the away support took it upon themselves to vandalise club property, the Black Cats faithful who had turned out to back their team behaved impeccably.

Ironically, what was happening on the pitch was a fantastic advert for football. Skill, passion, excitement and an avalanche of goals, the headlines should have been all about the wealth of potential the two North East football giants have in their squads.

Instead, the idiocy and wanton destruction of a senseless few garners all the attention.

We are all for fanning the flames of derby day passions, but what went on at the Stadium of Light overstepped the mark.

It has nothing to do with football and it is good to see all sides condemning the action of the mindless few.

Newcastle fans have even taken to our social media pages to apologise for the behaviour of those responsible.

There is no place for this in football and, hopefully, the law will catch up with the offenders.

Northumbria Police is working with both Sunderland and Newcastle United to identify the yobs and bring them to justice.

We trust they’ll be caught, punished and banned from both stadiums ... that would do something to lift the spirits of all true fans of what should be the beautiful game.