POLICE have praised the behaviour of fans at Saturday's Sunderland-Newcastle derby match.

Police made 49 arrests, mostly for minor public order offences and drunkenness, in and around the Stadium of Light.

The game, the last derby clash for some time, as Sunderland will be playing in the Nationwide League First Division next season, attracted a 45,000 crowd.

The vast majority of Newcastle fans went to and from the game, which their team won 1-0, in a fleet of official coaches, given a heavy police escort.

But there were reports of minor skirmishes between rival fans before the match, and afterwards bottles and cans were thrown at officers trying to disperse a crowd of Sunderland fans.

Northumbria Police said 39 of the arrests were made in or around the ground but there were "no specific incidents of note".

The force said that, overall, the behaviour of the crowd was good.

Match commander Superintendent Paul Weir said: "The enthusiasm, energy and professionalism of the officers in carrying out their duties allowed us to pre-empt any moves made by those intending to cause disorder and prevented any violence from occurring, with most of the arrests for minor public orders and drunkenness.''

Chief Inspector John Brady said: "Both sets of fans in the ground were pretty well behaved. Our response was very professional and we managed to stay one step ahead of those intent on causing disorder in the city centre and the ground."