Five Sunderland players who lit up St James' Park before Newcastle derby | OneFootball

Tyne-Wear derbies have minted Sunderland cult heroes. With Regis Le Bris' side visiting Tyneside on Sunday, we revisit standout St James' Park moments.

According to Sunderland Echo, here are five Black Cats who left their mark on enemy turf.

In February 1979, Gary Rowell hit a hat-trick in a 4-1 Division Two win, scoring on six minutes, again before the half-hour, then a penalty after the hour as Wayne Entwistle added the fourth. Rowell, who died in December aged 68, became a club legend.

On 16 May 1990, after a goalless first leg, Eric Gates put Sunderland ahead early in the play-off semi-final at St James' Park, then five minutes from time Marco Gabbiadini exchanged passes with Gates and slid in the clincher. Sunderland reached Wembley and were later promoted after Swindon Town were punished.

Boyhood Toon fan Don Hutchison sparked a Premier League comeback in November 2000, levelling after Gary Speed’s early strike before Niall Quinn’s winner 15 minutes from time. It delivered back-to-back St James' Park wins for the first time since 1933.

Under Paolo Di Canio in April 2013, Sunderland ended a six-game winless run as Stephane Sessegnon scored, Adam Johnson added a second, then David Vaughan curled a left-foot shot into the top right corner past sub keeper Rob Elliot.

On-loan Liverpool forward Fabio Borini scored in both 2013-14 derbies. He smashed a 20th-minute penalty, marking it with his knife between the teeth celebration, before Adam Johnson and Jack Colback completed a 3-0 win.

Source: Sunderland Echo