Two first half goals from Michael Owen was enough for Newcastle to win the 139th Tyne Wear derby.

Newcastle was far too good for its visitors, outclassing Sunderland for the vast majority of the encounter, as they extended their unbeaten run to six games.

The match was played to a bad drop of a wall of noise, as the Toon Army showed unanimous backing to Kevin Keegan’s resurgent side.

Only four minutes in and those fans were rewarded.  A great right wing cross from Geremi was expertly met by Owen, whose fine headed finish made it 1-0.  It was a superb run by Owen, who ran from deep to get in front of his marker in the box.

 

For the rest of the first half Newcastle dominated the Black Cats, who failed to produce any major attacking threat.

It was not until the final minute of the half till Newcastle doubled the lead.  Some good interplay between Mark Viduka and Owen saw Owen jink into the box, only for his ball to be stopped by the hand of defender Danny Higginbotham.

Owen’s penalty conversion was average at best, the strike went straight down the centre and hit goalkeeper Craig Gordan, but it was not enough to spot the shot, only deflecting the ball into the corner of the goal.