Sunderland have beaten Newcastle 2-1 in the Tyne-Wear derby with an 85th-minute winner from Fabio Borini.
The home side's afternoon got off to the perfect start after only five minutes when Steven Fletcher met an Adam Johnson cross and powered his header into the net from close range.
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Newcastle's response saw Yohan Cabaye fire a 25-yard shot over the bar, but the Frenchman came much closer shortly after with a free kick that Kieren Westwood did well to hold.
Despite their lead, the Black Cats struggled to impose themselves on their opponents, with Newcastle dominating possession.
Hatem Ben Arfa tried his luck from distance but his ambitious effort flew wide of the post.
The opening 10 minutes of the second half were devoid of any attacking threat, but that all changed on 58 minutes when Mathieu Debuchy scored his first goal for Newcastle, latching on to Ben Arfa's scuffed shot to tap in at the back post.
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Sebastian Larsson tried to restore Sunderland's lead moments later with a curling shot that went wide.
Cabaye almost made it two for the visitors, curling a shot from 25 yards against the back stantion with Westwood at full stretch.
Sunderland substitute Fabio Borini nearly put his team back in the lead with his first involvement in the game, but Tim Krul was able to pounce on his shot.
Shola Ameobi was inches away from snatching the win for the Magpies, but his low effort just missed the outside of the post.
However, with the match heading for a draw, Borini received the ball 25 yards from goal and let fly with a swerving shot that deceived Krul and nestled in the net.
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Westwood was required to save Sunderland once more before the end as his tipped John O'Shea's back-header over the bar.
Gary Peters
