After Sunderland’s latest heroics at St James’ Park, Adam Johnson is now a Tyne-Wear derby hero. Chief football writer Paul Fraser looks at other players who could argue to be the greatest derby player
WHEN Adam Johnson broke Tyneside hearts at St James’ Park, he firmly worked his way into Tyne-Wear derby folklore. If avoiding defeat in his first five matches against Newcastle United as a Sunderland player was not enough, he took his success story to a new level.
Having already scored in Sunderland’s two most recent visits to St James’ with him in the side, Johnson went one better this time around.
Newcastle had their moments, but the match-winning counter-attack, of which Johnson was the architect, will be remembered for the way the winger arrived at the right moment in the penalty area to finish off the move he started at the other end of the pitch.
Johnson quipped afterwards that he was happy to have made Christmas that little bit extra special this year for Sunderland’s fans and he has earned himself Tyne-Wear derby hero status in the process.
He joins an extensive list dating back to Christmas Eve 1898 when Newcastle won 3-2 courtesy of Willie Wardrope’s winner at Roker Park.
Who is the biggest derby hero? Is he listed, or someone else? Have your say.
FIVE OF SUNDERLAND’S DERBY HEROES
Charlie Buchan
Before he died 54 years ago, Buchan was worshipped in Sunderland and would be still today by anyone old enough to have seen him play. The story of his refusal to accept a bribe in the build up to the 1922 derby added to his legend.
The Sunderland forward was offered £1,000 to ensure Sunderland threw the game when they travelled to St James’ Park. The England man reported the incident to the police before scoring in a 2-1 win.
After that Sunderland finished runners-up and Buchan’s 30 goals were more than any other player that year.
Gary Rowell
February, 24, 1979 will always be on Rowell’s mind. Not only was that the day of his first hat-trick in the Football League, but it was against Newcastle.
Having scored twice before half-time, he completed his treble just after the hour and he was then instrumental in the final goal of the 4-1 win when Wayne Entwistle was on the line to finish things off after Rowell’s cross had been poorly dealt with.
Newcastle boss Billy McGarry said: “Rowell is, quite simply, a gift. You never see him, but he just scores goals.”
Marco Gabbiadini
It is almost unfair to mention Gabbiadini ahead of his attacking sidekick Eric Gates, although for the reason he was the match-winner in the 1990 play-off semi-final earns him legendary status on Wearside.
After a goalless draw at Roker Park a few days earlier, the return leg had a trip to Wembley riding on it. After Gates, pictured below, had scored from the spot, the stage was set for Gabbiadini.
With four minutes remaining he ensured there was no way back for the Magpies by adding a second against a team which finished 12 points ahead of them in the league – and angry home fans invaded the pitch in the hope of having the game abandoned.
EQUALISER: Niall Quinn celebrates his equaliser in the game between Newcastle and Sunderland at St James' Park in 1999
Prior to the current good run by Sunderland at St James’, it was back in the days of Quinn and Kevin Phillips when they last won two games at Newcastle in a row. Quinn scored in both.
As the driving rain pelted down in August 1999, Quinn levelled things up after Kieron Dyer’s opener before Phillips lobbed the winner. Not content with that result, which got Ruud Gullit the sack, Quinn returned the following season and headed in the winner.
Adam Johnson
LATE WINNER: Adam Johnson fires home the winner at St James' Park
If Quinn thought he had done well from the derby, his heroics are nothing compared to those of Johnson’s most recent derby displays. Scoring in three, winning four and undefeated in five games against Newcastle is not a bad return for the winger signed from Manchester City in August 2012.
FIVE OF NEWCASTLE’S DERBY HEROES
Jackie Milburn
Wor Jackie remains Newcastle’s record all-time scorer against Sunderland with 11 in 15 games, so quite rightly deserves his place as a derby great – if not the greatest.
Like Johnson, he also scored in three successive away games during the 50s; he also scored in three direct derby matches in a row even if Sunderland did not win them all. It is hard to imagine that any player will ever surpass his tally, given the tendency for players to move clubs these days.
Peter Beardsley
VIDEO LAUNCH: Peter Beardsley launches his Peter The Great video at Newcastle Breweries in 1997
When Beardsley scored all three goals in Newcastle’s 3-1 win over Sunderland in January 1985 he became only the second player to hit a hat-trick in the history of the derby.
He would have had four had he scored a second spot-kick of the afternoon, the skilful England man had too much for the red and white defenders and their frustration ended with both Howard Gayle and Gary Bennett seeing red.
Liam O’Brien
The Irish defender scored two brilliant goals against Sunderland and his second remains one of the most remembered.
In November 1991 his lob at Roker Park which earned a point and the following year he returned to do something even more special.
His exceptionally crafted free-kick 14 minutes before the end proved the deciding factor in the game and extend Newcastle’s unbeaten start to the season under Kevin Keegan.
CHICKEN DANCE: Kevin Nolan celebrates scoring the first of Newcastle's goals in the 5-1 win in 2010. Picture by Tom Banks
Another hat-trick man and he helped ensure it was a happy Halloween for Newcastle on October 31, 2010. After perfectly putting Newcastle ahead with goals on 26 and 34 minutes, he got his third after a Shola Ameobi double to secure a 5-1 win.
The following season he also went to the Stadium of Light and put Newcastle ahead before Asamoah Gyan earned the Black Cats a point.
Shola Ameobi
MACKEM SLAYER: Shola Ameobi has seven hit goals against Sunderland and this was from the spot in 2011
He was affectionately known as the Mackem Slayer on Tyneside for the way he regularly found the net against Wearsiders.
Only Milburn has scored more against Sunderland and he took his tally to seven after opening his account with a double inside a frenzied three minutes in October 2005.
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