Five Sunderland players who made their mark at St James' Park ahead of the Newcastle United derby | OneFootball

At St James' Park, Tyne-Wear derbies have forged Black Cats cult heroes.

With Regis Le Bris' side visiting on Sunday, Sunderland Echo spotlights five who made their mark.

Gary Rowell’s hat-trick lit up February 1979 as Sunderland won 4-1 in Division Two, a feat that cemented his legend. Rowell, who died in December aged 68, is still revered. On 16 May 1990, Eric Gates struck early and Marco Gabbiadini sealed a play-off semi-final victory after a goalless first leg, a run that ultimately brought promotion despite a Wembley defeat to Swindon Town.

In November 2000 boyhood Toon fan Don Hutchison cancelled out Gary Speed’s early goal, before Niall Quinn struck late to complete a 2-1 turnaround. It delivered successive away wins at St James' Park for the first time since 1933. In April 2013 under Paolo Di Canio, Stephane Sessegnon and Adam Johnson scored before David Vaughan curled in a fine third to end a six-game derby drought.

In 2013-14, on-loan Liverpool forward Fabio Borini scored in both derbies. He settled a 2-1 win on Wearside in October, then opened the scoring from the spot at St James' Park in February after Vurnon Anita fouled Phil Bardsley, celebrating with his trademark between-the-teeth mime. Adam Johnson added a second and Jack Colback, a boyhood Newcastle fan, made it 3-0. Borini finished with 10 goals, including one at Wembley, returned to Liverpool, then signed permanently 12 months later.

Source: Sunderland Echo