Cats let lead slip and lose derby battle

SUNDERLAND squandered a two-goal lead as Newcastle United came from behind to complete a Tyne-Wear Premier League Two double.

The Black Cats, who lost 5-0 at St James’ Park back in August, looked on course to take revenge.

Goals from Lee Connelly and Jack Diamond put them in command with little more than half-an-hour gone in a game played behind closed doors at the Academy of Light.

However, Newcastle pulled a goal back through Thomas Allan just before half-time and Elias Sorensen levelled on the hour.

Callum Roberts, who had hit the post in the first half, then blazed a penalty over the bar - but substitute Rosaire Longelo spared his blushes when he netted the winner in injury-time.

This defeat means Sunderland, who are without a win in 10 games, remain bottom of Premier League Two Group Two while Newcastle climb to fifth.

To make matters worse, the Black Cats lost defender Jack Bainbridge to a hamstring injury which saw him pull up sharply in the first half against the Magpies.

The afternoon had started brightly for Sunderland with Connelly taking advantage of a defensive mix-up to beat Newcastle goalkeeper Otto Huuhtanen to a long ball forward and touch home from inside the area on 11 minutes.

Diamond doubled Sunderland’s lead in the 34th minute when Huuhtenan’s poor clearance went straight to the midfielder just inside the Newcastle half on the left flank.

He lofted a shot over the retreating goalkeeper and into the net from fully 40 yards out.

The Magpies pulled a goal back in the 42nd minute when Oliver Walters drove the ball low across the face of goal and it hit the grounded Allan and deflected into the net.

Newcastle then took charge in the second half and the equaliser came when Patterson started to come for a cross from the left and stopped.

Allan headed back across goal and Sorensen was there to touch home from close range.

Roberts then missed his penalty before, in the first minute of injurytime, Sorensen’s free-kick from 25 yards out was only parried by Patterson and the loose ball fell to Longelo, who made no mistake to seal United’s victory.