Sunderland had the better of the first half, but just could not find a way through the Newcastle defence.

Danny Higginbotham broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, but Sunderland conceded a soft equaliser to James Milner 12 minutes later.

Sunderland made the breakthrough seven minutes into the second half.

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They took the corner very quickly, Kenwyne Jones and Grant Leadbitter playing it short at the left-hand corner flag.

With Jones standing next to him, it looked as though Leadbitter would have nothing to aim at in the box, but he held on to the ball well, kept his composure and picked out the run of Higginbotham, who had come racing in at the far post.

Leadbitter lifted his cross over from the left, found Higginbotham and the defender guided a header down and past Harper.

The stadium erupted in a way it has rarely done before as the home fans and the players celebrated deliriously.

But Newcastle equalised in the 64th minute with as soft a goal as Sunderland have conceded all season.

The Magpies worked the ball forward very well up the left flank, but there seemed little danger when Milner received the ball on the edge of the box and cut inside.

The winger seemed to try for a cross into the danger area and it looked as though it had taken the merest deflection off McShane on the way through, but it was enough to flummox Craig Gordon in goal and the ball went across him into the far corner.

Sunderland went closest to a winner 10 minutes from time.

Michael Chopra chased the ball down to earn a corner from the right.

The Black Cats should have taken the lead this time, Ian Harte putting an excellent ball in from the right and Chopra, at the far post, heading the ball against the bar.

For a second, the ball was anyone's as it bounced down inside the six-yard box, but it dropped unkindly for Sunderland and it was hooked clear by Newcastle.

* Full report and reaction in tonight's Football Echo