ADAM JOHNSON has revealed that creating his own little piece of history at St James’ Park was on a par with anything else the Sunderland winger has achieved in professional football.

Johnson, who won the Premier League and FA Cup during his time at Manchester City, was mobbed by his team-mates after the final whistle had blown on a dramatic afternoon on Tyneside in which the Black Cats claimed a fourth win in a row over their rivals.

But for Johnson it was extra special, having delivered the match-winning goal in the final minute to leave the Magpies defeated and deflated.

Easington-born Johnson became the first player from either of the two clubs to score in three consecutive away games since the legendary Jackie Milburn achieved the feat 58 years ago.

Given his local roots and the Sunderland supporting family around him, he was well aware of the significance of his achievements on the ground of the Wearsider’s fiercest rivals.

Johnson said: “When everybody jumped on me at the final whistle, it's probably up there with the best feelings I have had in football so far. To have scored the winner, in the last minute, in front of the Gallowgate End for Sunderland can never be taken away from me now.

“I was a fan in those days when Sunderland could not win at St James’ and then there was the (Kevin) Phillips and (Niall) Quinn era when they won a couple, but we have started a new era of our own now and it feels great.”

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet was made aware of the fact he could be the first manager to lead Sunderland to four successive wins – the first was when Paolo Di Canio was in charge - over Newcastle and he was stressing that to his players in the build up.

Having been a goalscorer in three of those four matches Johnson – undefeated in five derby games since moving from Manchester City in 2012 – would love nothing more than for his good run to continue when the two meet on April 4.

“We did talk about the history of the fixture, he kept reminding us about the four in a row possibility,” said Johnson. “But we also had to focus on our own game and build on our recent good performances.

“It has been a good ground for us in recent years and for me personally it has been very good. That's three in a row for me that I have scored there. Three wins, three goals, it's great for me. There must be a little bit of history.

“Since I signed I have won four and drawn one. Obviously they are high flying at the minute as well, apart from the last couple of results, but they are doing well in the league still. It's a big win for us.

“It's brilliant to be part of the first Sunderland team to win four in a row. We have created history. We are the team that did it. I am not sure how many more times that will happen!”

Despite the euphoria surrounding Sunday’s victory, the fact remains that Sunderland have only won three Premier League games this season. The hope, though, is that it will act as a turning point after showing plenty of positive signs in the build up to Sunday’s trip to Newcastle.

Johnson said: “We were quietly confident going in to the game, but hopefully this is the lift we needed because we have felt it had been coming. We have played quite well in games, but just hadn't been able to win games.”

Asked how easy it would have been to go down after two heavy challenges from Moussa Sissoko and Paul Dummett in the build up to his winner.

He said: “Sissoko was having a go at me, the second one - Dummett - he tried to scissor me after I had turned Sissoko. If you stay on your feet then you get rewarded and to go on from there and get the winner proves that.

"I could have gone down easily, they were fouls, taken a free-kick and probably taken the draw. But we wanted to go to St James' Park and win. It was in the back of our minds that the win was what we wanted – and we delivered.”

Sunderland striker Connor Wickham, meanwhile, will miss the Boxing Day game with Hull after picking up his fifth yellow card at Newcastle.