SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid admitted last night that Newcastle were unlucky not to have won a hard-fought derby match in which the Wearsiders were second best.

The straight-talking Wearside boss said he smiled only twice - when England striker Kevin Phillips scored and when the referee blew the final whistle.

He said: "I was glad when the final whistle went because in the second half we didn't pass the ball at all.

"Newcastle will see themselves slightly unfortunate not to get the three points.

"The only thing I can say is that we dug in but we just didn't pass the ball well enough, particularly in the second half."

Reid was pleased with the way Phillips grabbed his second goal in three games, but was disappointed to concede just before half time.

He said: "Kevin gave us a great start but from our point of view it was a bad goal to concede - we lost possession and we didn't pick up Bellamy's run, though I must say the kid stuck it away well.

"If we had held on until half time it might have been different."

Reid was delighted to see Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen make a brilliant last-gasp save to deny United victory.

He said: "Thomas made a mistake at Fulham in midweek but he has made a couple of good saves to make up for it today."

Reid said he had rested his £3.6m French signing Lilian Laslandes and £2.5m Argentinian Julio Arca.

He explained: "The pace of the French game is different and Laslandes has had two high-tempo games in a few days - leaving him out was a resting process.

"I wanted to protect Arca because he has had a hamstring niggle but the way we passed it today I think we will use him very soon."

Swiss defender Bernt Haas played for most of the match with six stitches in a head wound

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