THE mocking Geordie fans who sang "We'll Meet Again'' and held up "Ha Ha'' banners at the Stadium of Light, almost saw the cruel jibes rebound as they bade a not-so-fond farewell to their bitter foes.

By the admission of manager Mick McCarthy, already-relegated Sunderland rediscovered their Premier Passions a little too late to say the least.

The derby occasion engendered a fighting spirit rarely seen from the Black Cats in this most fateful of seasons.

Sunderland were without striking talisman Kevin Phillips, ruled out with a groin injury, and there was no denying Newcastle's greater overall class.

But all Sir Bobby Robson's men had to show for it was a 42nd-minute penalty from Nolberto Solano, who assumed spot-kick duties following the loss of skipper Alan Shearer with an ankle injury that threatens to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Newcastle certainly knew they had been in a game by the end of this bruising contest, with Shearer on crutches and centre-back Andy O'Brien nursing a broken nose.

Sunderland's combative approach ensured they regained a small measure of pride.

Indeed, that was all they had left to play for in the 124th League meeting between these deadly rivals.

And when granite-like Scotland striker Kevin Kyle headed home in injury time, there was ephemeral belief among the Wearside hordes that their side's efforts might not have been in vain.

With Newcastle needing victory to maintain their Champions League push, it looked, just for a moment, like Sunderland had performed an ironic act of sabotage.

But referee Steve Bennett's intervention left McCarthy openly cursing his misfortune on the touchline.

Late substitute Tore Andre Flo, the £8.2m club record signing, who has become something of a liability since Peter Reid recruited him from Rangers early this season, was adjudged to have impeded goalkeeper Shay Given.

Sunderland's premature celebrations came to an abrupt halt and the last laugh was Newcastle's after all.

McCarthy found it hard to take after witnessing his seventh straight loss since succeeding Howard Wilkinson. It also extended the worst run of results in Sunderland's history to 13 League defeats.

The former Republic of Ireland boss made no excuses for "bemoaning'' his luck and "whingeing.'' He said: "There was a lot of effort, passion and quality from us. We had some good chances and I feel kind of hard done by.

"There weren't too many complaints from them over the disallowed goal. It was more a look of acceptance that they'd lost two points.

"I wonder, had we been one-nil up at St. James' Park whether it would have been the same decision. I couldn't have asked for more from the players; all we needed was a lucky break.

"We didn't look a like team who are rock bottom with 19 points. Bobby said to me afterwards that if we'd played like this all season, we wouldn't be in this position. This is the type of performance that will get us back into the Premiership.

"We'll try to win at Aston Villa on Saturday and at home to Arsenal, but I'll take the first game of next season for a win now.'' Robson had a gripe of his own, arguing that Shearer had a legitimate goal chalked off when he was seemingly penalised for a nudge on Darren Williams in only the second minute.

But the United boss conceded: "You have to give Sunderland credit because they fought very well. They played the best they have for weeks.''

While the Magpies played with more fluency and menace, Given was forced to make two fine saves from David Bellion, who was making his first appearance under McCarthy.

The second came only a minute before Newcastle took the lead. Craig Bellamy, who plagued Sunderland with his pacey, probing runs, was brought down by Kevin Kilbane.

With Shearer having hobbled off in the 26th minute, it was left to Solano to do the honours, and he sent the recalled Thomas Sorensen the wrong way from the spot to post his eighth goal of the season and second in successive games.

Solano, who had squandered a free header early in the match, spurned another great opening in the 67th minute when he spooned the ball over after Bellamy's dummy.

Newcastle might have been on Easy Street had Bellamy not been so profligate when through on goal.

Robson acknowledged: "One-on-ones are an area where he has to improve, but he's only 23. He has to learn to take the difficult ones, but I can't complain about his performance.

"He was spikey, always a threat and always looking to get in behind people. He did that four or five times. For me, he was the man-of-the-match.''

Sunderland's top performer was the emerging Sean Thornton, whose industry in midfield was nearly rewarded with a free-kick which Given just managed to claw away.

"Sean was excellent, considering he's only 19,'' said McCarthy, who gave Sunderland fans a glimpse of the future when he blooded another young Irishman in 18-year-old midfielder Richie Ryan, introduced as a 76th-minute replacement for Michael Proctor.

"I saw him play in the reserves the other week and you can see he's a player,'' added McCarthy. "He'll be in my squad now - that's him promoted.

"Like Sean and Kevin Kyle, he's not the finished article. But for his age, to come on and play like he did, is very encouraging.

"Some of these young fellas are going to need loving a bit, taking care of, but they have the potential. If we can bring it out of them, they will be good players for us next season."

Result: Sunderland 0 Newcastle United 1.

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