Sunderland beat Newcastle United 1-0 in the Wear-Tyne Derby on Sunday.

Sky Sports punditry duo Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd have dismissed claims that Sunderland pair Brian Brobbey and Nordi Mukiele could have been sent off during Sunday’s Wear-Tyne Derby victory over Newcastle United.

The Black Cats ran out 1-0 winners over their bitter local rivals, with Nick Woltemade heading past his own goalkeeper to hand the hosts all three points. In a fraught and oftentimes physical affair, however, there were a couple of moments of contention.

One centred around Brobbey, who - having already been booked for dissent - seemingly trod on the ankle of opposing midfielder Lewis Miley. At the time, referee Peter Bankes waved play on, and while Gallagher and Bothroyd suggested that a free-kick should have been awarded, neither are of the opinion that the incident should definitely have led to the Sunderland striker’s dismissal.

What was said about Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey?

Speaking about Brobbey’s challenge on Miley on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Gallagher said: “It's interesting. If you look at this, you see he lands on his foot. Is it a second yellow card? Possibly. VAR can't get involved. But this is the referee's view. It doesn't look as though he's touched it. It actually looks as though his boot comes down alongside it. So that's the referee's view. So you can understand why the referee, he didn't even give a free kick. You can understand that.”

Bothroyd added: “Again, I agree with Dermot in that situation. I think to the referee, it does seem like he's just put his heel down and then his foot. But then from the other view behind, obviously he's caught him. But I think that's just an unfortunate challenge. I don't think that's a yellow card. I just think that's a foul.

“I think sometimes we can get caught in these dilemmas where you're like, everything is a yellow card. I don't think that's a yellow card. I just think that's a foul. They're both going there to win the ball. It looks a certain way when you slow it down. But I just think that's an unfortunate coming together, to be honest.”

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What was said about Sunderland defender Nordi Mukiele?

Elsewhere, Mukiele was booked following a collision with Dan Burn that led to the Newcastle defender being sent to hospital with an apparent rib issue. The two players both made sliding attempts to win the same ball, with Burn marginally beating his opponent to the punch and receiving a notable blow to the midriff for his troubles.

Reflecting on the incident, Gallagher said: “I think the difference here, is one player got the ball, one didn't. Half a second the other way, it could have been Dan Burn that court, Mukiele. Both players are challenging for the ball. It's inevitable they're going to collide. As I say, the only difference is Dan Burn... if you look, that's how fractional it is. Fractions before, he gets there first. It's just really unfortunate. But these things happen in football, don't they?”

Bothroyd responded: “Exactly. And again, I hope Dan Burn is okay. I haven't broken my ribs or anything like that, but everyone that I know who has... it’s really, really sore. He ain't going to be sleeping for weeks. But that, to me, is not even a yellow card. Because I feel like they're both sliding in for the ball. They're both making an honest challenge for the ball. And it's just that the pitches are so slick, so wet, that momentum has taking him into Dan Burn. And I don't think that's a yellow card decision. But, I mean, I can understand why he got a yellow card, because his reaction, you can see, he is in a lot of pain. But I don't know if that's a yellow card.”

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