Sunderland 1 Newcastle 0
April 5, 1980

THIRTY-ONE years after Sunderland narrowly defeated Newcastle United to set their promotion charge in motion and condemn Newcastle to mid-table mediocrity, the two bitter rivals now flying high in the Premier League will meet at the Stadium Of Light on Sunday.

After Sunderland were humiliated 5-1 at St James’ Park earlier in the season, they will be looking to draw some inspiration from 1980, when they beat Newcastle 1-0.

It was a marginal victory that gave them the impetus to clinch promotion at the end of the season, while the Magpies were left to stew in mid-table.

With the season drawing to a close on April 7, the Tyne- Wear derby was classed as one of the most important matches in the clubs’ history.

With both teams harbouring hopes for promotion, they knew that whoever lost would almost certainly be condemned to another season in Division Two.

Frank Johnson reported in The Northern Echo: “Bill Mc- Garry had watched his side take charge in the first half and then lose out to a 73rd minute goal by Stan Cummins.”

Much of the first half belonged to Newcastle, inspired by Irish international Tommy Cassidy. Newcastle created chance after chance, but were unable to apply the final touch in front of goal.

Cassidy created the best chance of the half when he jinked his way past two defenders before hitting a longrange effort over the bar.

Sunderland improved after the break thanks to the introduction of Cummins. As Sunderland came more into the game, they were rewarded when Kevin Arnott’s cross fell to the feet of Cummins, who was given too much time and space to turn, before he swept the ball into the bottom corner from just inside the sixyard box.

The Sunderland portion of the 40,000 fans packed into Roker Park were sent into raptures, all dreaming of promotion back to Division One.

Sunderland carried on pressing after the goal, then Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Hardwick first denied a clever flick from Bryan Robson and then produced a stunning finger tip save to turn Arnott’s free-kick round the post.

With time running out, Newcastle pressed forward and created a host of chances that Cassidy and Stuart Boam wasted. As the game entered its final stages, Newcastle fullback Ian Davies had the chance to snatch a point, but he ballooned his effort from the edge of the area high over the bar.

Sunderland, led by Ken Knighton, managed to hold on to the win thanks to last-ditch defending from their centreback pairing of Rob Hindmarch and Jeff Clarke.

After the game, when questioned about Sunderland’s promotion chances, Knighton said: “The issue will be decided by guts as much as anything – players who accept responsibility in all areas of the field.”

As Sunderland prepare to face their biggest rivals on Sunday, they will be hoping they can rekindle the spirit from 1980 and defeat Newcastle in front of their own fans to keep their push for a European place going.