Sunderland 0-3 Newcastle United: FA Cup Match Report

The Toon travelled to the Stadium of Light low on confidence after a poor run of form but made their quality count to earn a 3-0 win and the bragging rights in the Tyne-Wear derby. 

Dan Ballard's own goal put Eddie Howe's side in front at half-time before Alexander Isak's second-half double secured victory for Newcastle in the first derby match since 2016.

Howe unsurprisingly opted for a strong side with Lewis Miley dropping to the bench, while Kieran Trippier returned to the starting lineup.

Michael Beale opted for the same team that beat Preston North End on New Year's Day, but they couldn't produce the same result. 

Newcastle looked dangerous in the opening stages, with Trippier's crossing causing all sorts of problems down the right-hand side, and Sean Longstaff twice came close to opening the scoring, with Anthony Patterson denying him in the opening minutes before he sent the ball way over from a second opportunity. 

However, the breakthrough did come on 35 minutes when Joelinton broke free down the left-hand side, and his dangerous cross was volleyed past his own keeper by Ballard. 

Sunderland needed to keep their heads after half-time but conceded a second within a minute, with Pierre Ekwah caught on the edge of his own box by the electric Miguel Almiron, and he squared for Isak to score a simple finish. 

The hosts did have spells in the game, with Alex Pritchard perhaps enjoying the two best moments of the fixture from a Sunderland fixture, first clipping the bar from range as he attempted to repeat his wonder goal last time out, before Martin Dubravka denied his effort from just outside the box. 

But Sunderland's misery would be compounded late on when Isak set Anthony Gordon free, and he was simply too quick for Ballard, whose nightmare display was summed up with rugby-style tackle on the winger. 

Isak stepped up to beat Patterson from the spot, sending Toon fans home with significant bragging rights.