Analysis: Four lessons each club learned from the Tyne-Wear derby

1. Martin O’Neill’s much-criticised key signings are not as bad as we thought they were

Aside from the acquisition of Steven Fletcher, O’Neill’s signing policy was generally deemed to have been a disaster. However, a number of the key performers on Sunday were bought by the Northern Irishman.

Carlos Cuellar performed superbly at centre-half, Alfred N’Diaye outplayed Cheik Tiote at the heart of midfield and Danny Graham led the line impressively as he produced his best display in a Sunderland shirt.

Adam Johnson, previously the most disappointing of O’Neill’s purchases, was inspired throughout, with his dazzling second goal capping a display that recalled the stellar performances from the early part of his career.

2. Danny Graham is capable of leading the line as a lone striker

In the absence of Fletcher, who is set to miss the remainder of the season with an ankle injury, much has been expected of Graham following his £5m move from Swansea.

Prior to Sunday, he had failed to convince, with Connor Wickham’s committed showing at Chelsea suggesting the England under-21 international was best placed to lead the line in the remainder of the season.

Graham is still searching for his first Sunderland goal, but he dominated Newcastle’s central defenders throughout Sunday’s game and clearly relishes the extra responsibility on his shoulders.

3. A positive approach will reap rewards if the players buy into it

As well as bolstering his players’ morale in the last fortnight, Paolo Di Canio has also been urging them to adopt a more positive tactical approach and mindset.

The result was clear to see at the weekend. After struggling to carve out chances all season, Sunderland suddenly fashioned seven attempts on target, three of which found the back of the net.

In an instructive episode, Di Canio was furious with his centre-halves, John O’Shea and Kader Mangane, when they were reluctant to push upfield for an 87th-minute corner. Could you imagine O’Neill adopting a similarly positive approach in the same circumstances?

4. There is a lack of depth to the Sunderland squad which must be addressed this summer

It would be wrong to suggest that Sunderland’s substitute bench was chronically weak given that one of the replacements, David Vaughan, came on to score what will probably be celebrated as the club’s Goal of the Season.

However, while the likes of Mangane, Mikael Mandron and Jordan Laidler might develop into established Premier League players in the future, their presence at St James’ exposed an alarming lack of depth in Sunderland’s first-team squad.

The absence of Fletcher, Wickham, Lee Cattermole and Craig Gardner was a mitigating factor, but Di Canio will have to address the lack of experienced options when the transfer window reopens.

1. Despite their exit from the Europa League, the Magpies’ season is not finished yet

After Newcastle crashed out of Europe on Thursday, there was a sense that Sunday’s derby would effectively mark the end of their season. Not any more.

Despite Alan Pardew’s previous ill-advised comments, Newcastle are not safe. In fact, they are far from it. They remain five points above the relegation zone, but if Wigan were to win one of their two games in hand, things would change at a stroke.

Pardew’s main challenge now is to refocus his players’ minds ahead of the five games that remain. On Sunday, too many looked like they had mentally switched off ahead of the summer. They need to switch themselves back on - and fast.

2. If Papiss Cisse fails to fire, Newcastle do not have many attacking options

Cisse’s recent fine form has obscured the fact that Newcastle never really replaced Demba Ba, but Sunday’s game exposed a lack of goal threat if the Magpies’ Senegalese number nine is off key.

Moussa Sissoko, Sylvain Marveaux and Yoan Gouffran formed an attacking triumvirate behind Cisse, but none is a regular goalscorer and it can be argued that Pardew is not really playing any of the three in their ideal position.

Newcastle have scored six goals since the start of March, and Cisse has scored four of them. If he doesn’t score at the moment, it is hard to see who else is going to.

3. Hatem Ben Arfa is crucial to Newcastle’s preferred style of attacking play

In the absence of a powerful centre-forward and natural wingers, Newcastle need an attacking player who plays between the lines and pulls opposition defenders into areas they do not want to go to.

Ben Arfa is that player, and while he was unable to spark a revival in the second half of Sunday’s game, it was telling that Newcastle’s threat increased whenever he was on the ball after the break.

He was the only player in a black-and-white shirt willing to dribble at opponents, and his fitness will surely be crucial in the remaining month of the campaign.

4. Pardew’s honeymoon period in the Newcastle hot seat is over

Given that Newcastle have under-performed throughout the domestic campaign, Pardew has come in for very little criticism this season.

His position was justifiably strengthened by his side’s performances last season and the successes of the European campaign, but the Magpies are out of Europe now and Sunday’s humiliation was a particularly bitter pill to swallow.

Hardly anyone is advocating a change of manager, but Pardew’s tactics, personnel choices and post-match excuses have been widely criticised in the social media and his reputation has undoubtedly been damaged by the weekend’s events.