Newcastle 2-0 Sunderland

By Andrew McKenzie

Owen headed Newcastle in front in the fifth minute

Michael Owen scored both goals as a dominant Newcastle cruised past Sunderland to win the Tyne-Wear derby.

Owen put the Magpies ahead inside four minutes when he brilliantly got on the end of a Geremi cross to glance a header past Craig Gordon.

Sunderland were all at sea and fell further behind to an Owen penalty after Danny Higginbotham handled in the box.

Kenwyne Jones went closest to pulling a goal back for Sunderland with a header which was saved by Steve Harper.

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Resurgent Newcastle were worthy winners as Kevin Keegan kept up his perfect record as a Magpies boss against the Black Cats.

The victory means the Magpies can forget about any worries of being caught in the relegation scrap, but Sunderland will be looking over their shoulders after an abject display.

From the moment Paul McShane clattered into Owen in the opening minutes they were second best.

It was McShane who allowed Owen a free run into the area to meet Geremi's cross, although it was a far from easy chance that he converted with great composure.

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Composure was something that Sunderland were lacking and McShane will have been relieved to hear the referee's whistle for an infringement as he bizarrely headed into his own net from a corner.

Obafemi Martins should have squared for a queue of team-mates lining up to add a second rather than shoot, while Dean Whitehead volleyed over in a difficult and rare Sunderland chance.

With half-time approaching the only positive for the visitors was they were only trailing by the one goal.

But that was to change in the last minute of the half when Owen played a one-two with Marcus Viduka and then chipped the ball over the desperate lunge of Higginbotham.

Keegan (left) got one over on rival Keane

The ball clipped the defender's leading arm and Mike Dean perhaps harshly adjudged it a deliberate handball.

Owen stepped up to take the spot-kick and while his effort was close to Gordon's body it had sufficient power to beat the keeper's efforts.

Sunderland boss Roy Keane, who never lost a derby as a Manchester United player, has earned himself a reputation for keeping his calm on the touchline.

But he looked to be seething at his side's self-capitulation.

Whatever he said at half-time seemed to give something of a lift to his side as they enjoyed more possession in the second period and finally offered some support to an isolated Jones in attack.

Danny Collins had a header that hit Steven Taylor and a long-range effort from Andy Reid whistled over.

Interview: Sunderland boss Roy Keane

But they were no more than fleeting moments of hope and Newcastle looked just as likely to add to the scoreline.

Martins was put clean through on goal by Owen only for Gordon to beat out his effort, while at the other end Steve Harper did well to keep out a powerful Jones header.

Murphy saw a powerful strike blocked by Abdoulaye Faye as Sunderland threatened to make it an interesting last 20 minutes.

But Newcastle held on easily to make it 13 points from the last 15 and Keegan boosted his record to five wins out of five against Sunderland during his two spells in charge.

More importantly for the home fans will be the bragging rights over their local rivals for another season.

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• Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan:

"It wasn't a classic. We never really got going as a team but the fact we won it tells you we have players like Michael Owen who can get us something.

"The scoreline of 2-0 was maybe about right but Sunderland fans might say it slightly flattered us.

"It was a hard game and we were never on easy street despite the early goal and one just before half-time."

• Sunderland manager Roy Keane:

"We were OK but we know OK is not good enough.

"We gave two bad goals away. We got better in the second half but the game was probably over at half-time.

"We lost three players this week but you can't make excuses like that. I thought we were strong enough to get a result but we gave them a helping hand in terms of goals we gave away."

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Newcastle: Harper, Beye, Faye, Taylor, Jose Enrique (Edgar 87), Geremi, Butt, Barton, Owen, Viduka (Carroll 76), Martins (Duff 70).
Subs Not Used: Forster, Smith.

Goals: Owen 4, 45 pen.

Sunderland: Gordon, McShane (Harte 87), Nosworthy, Higginbotham, Collins, Edwards (Richardson 58), Whitehead, Miller, Reid, Murphy (Chopra 80), Jones.
Subs Not Used: Fulop, Leadbitter.

Booked: Whitehead, Murphy, Miller, Reid, Nosworthy.

Att: 52,305.

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

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BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Newcastle's Michael Owen (9.08 on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

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