Newcastle players emerged first out of the dressing room for the second half. It was Sunderland who started the second half on the front foot and a stunned Woltemade soon had his hands on his head after scoring what proved to be a decisive own goal. Eddie Howe had made the "importance" of this game clear to his players, but this was a limp performance.
Newcastle players emerged first out of the dressing room for the second half. By a considerable distance. The message was clear: the visitors were eager to get going.
Yet you would not have known it from their performance.
It was Sunderland who started the second half on the front foot and a stunned Woltemade soon had his hands on his head after scoring what proved to be a decisive own goal.
Yet that setback did little to spark Newcastle back into life.
Eddie Howe had made the "importance" of this game clear to his players, but this was a limp performance. From the off.
Cautious Newcastle set out to hit newly-promoted Sunderland on the break, but never looked like doing so as they struggled to string passes together.
Anthony Gordon harmlessly dribbled the ball out of play at one point. Anthony Elanga was anonymous. Woltemade's biggest contribution came in the opposition box.
The visitors had the luxury of a stronger bench - introducing Joe Willock, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes and Wissa in the second half - but Roefs never looked unduly concerned.
If that was not damning enough for Howe, Sunderland then rubbed salt into the wounds at full-time by recreating the team photograph on the pitch that Newcastle took after defeating the Black Cats in the FA Cup a couple of seasons ago.
This felt like a damaging afternoon.
Category: General Sports
