Sunderland 1 Newcastle United 0 | OneFootball

Nick Woltemade's second half own goal was all that separated the sides on Wearside on a bad day for Eddie Howe's men, who couldn't break down their stubborn North East neighbours.

Neither side seized the initiative in a lively first half that brought few real chances. United looked to get beyond the Black Cats' backline and succeeded on a few occasions, though the final ball was lacking.

Sunderland, meanwhile, sought to get the ball into the box, with one Bertrand Traoré cross forcing the otherwise unruffled Malick Thiaw to slice a clearance past his own post. Granit Xhaka fired over from distance before Newcastle suffered a setback when Dan Burn was injured in a challenge with Nordi Mukiele which saw the fullback booked and Burn replaced by Fabian Schär.

Dan Ballard headed a deep Xhaka cross over in the closing stages of the first 45, but barely a minute after the restart another cross brought the game's only goal. Sunderland recycled the ball, Xhaka fed Mukiele and the Frenchman's outswinging cross was inadvertently glanced in, via the crossbar, by Woltemade.

The goal brought a spell of pressure from Régis Le Bris' men and Howe responded with a triple substitution, introducing Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock in place of Anthony Elanga, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali. It helped push United forwards, and captain Bruno Guimarães forced a routine save from Robin Roefs soon after with a left-footed drive.

Guimarães was agonisingly close to sliding Murphy through and then tested Roefs with a curling effort from the edge of the box as the Magpies began to click into gear, but there were still moments of concern defensively. Substitute Wilson Isidor took aim from a tight angle and Aaron Ramsdale had to save well at his near post, diverting the shot round the upright.

Soon after, a deflected Murphy centre from the right just evaded another replacement, Yoane Wissa, who was alone in front of goal and just inches from applying the decisive touch. It was about as close as United came to a leveller, but it just wouldn't fall for Howe's men on what was a day to forget.