HIGH-FLYING Newcastle had to thank a former Sunderland player - goalkeeper Shay Given - for a crucial victory in the 122nd Tyne-Wear derby at the Stadium of Light.

For while Greek central defender Nikos Dabizas grabbed the match-winning goal to lift the Magpies back into second place in the Premiership it was the brilliant Irishman who won the Man of the Match award with two breath-taking saves from England striker Kevin Phillips.

Given, who was on loan on Wearside for three months in Sunderland manager Peter Reid's first full season, defied the home forwards - and Phillips in particular - to keep the Tynesiders on a steady course to winning a place in Europe this season after a sixth successive League and Cup victory.

Given's first inspiring save came in the first half when the quicksilver Phillips dashed between two defenders to unleash a thunderbolt of a right foot shot - and the Republic of Ireland international somehow managed to parry the effort away.

Dabizas had given United a 64th minute lead with a close-range header and Sunderland were staging a last-ditch effort to grab a share of the spoils when Given again proved to be in unbeatable form.

Phillips, on the edge of the box, sent in a curling right-foot drive which seemed to be bending into the top right hand corner of the net - but Given responded by launching himself into the air and clawed the ball away with a superb one-handed save.

It had been a frantic, breathless derby, with skilful football at a premium, but in a game where effort was on show in abundance, Newcastle probably shaded it with more threat from their front men.

Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen had his moments, too, under pressure, and came to the rescue in the 53rd minute when he made a point-blank save from French winger Laurent Robert, but was left helpless when Dabizas scored with a decisive header close in.

The early pace was furious and Sunderland created a couple of long-range shooting opportunities, but neither Claudio Reyna nor Bernt Haas would take on the responsibility before being crowded out.

Newcastle had a half chance in the ninth minute when Robert, this time on the right, chipped up a neat centre towards Craig Bellamy, but the striker, 12 yards out, could get no power or direction on his header.

Kevin Kilbane, who'd made a mess of a first minute corner, almost opened up the United defence in the 12th minute when he got past Distin and Andy O'Brien had to concede a corner to prevent Reyna reaching the centre on the edge of the six yards box.

The pressure - right in front of Newcastle fans - continued and there was a close call as Phillips, under pressure, put a half chance high into the crowd after a long throw from Haas.

Newcastle had the ball in the Sunderland net in the 16th minute but the offside flag was up against Bellamy as he latched on to a centre from Aaron Hughes before driving the ball past Sorensen.

Sunderland midfielder Jason McAteer was booked - his fifth of the season - for a rash challenge on Distin, who had to receive treatment in the 18th minute.

Neither side had been allowed to settle in a hectic opening 20 minutes but United carved out the first real chance in the 22nd minute when Alan Shearer out-jumped Joachim Bjorklund and his back-header freed Bellamy, whose first-time half-volley was too close for comfort, clipping the top of the net.

Sunderland, however, had an even better chance in the 25th minute when a high centre from Michael Gray was headed on by Speed into his own box and Kilbane, getting to the ball just before Given lifted his shot over the bar from the edge of the six-yard box.

On the half hour Newcastle went very close to taking the lead with Shearer picking up a loose ball on the right and crossing quickly for Bellamy to direct a darting header just wide of the right-hand post.

Newcastle were starting to get more possession but were being allowed very little time on the ball in what was still a frantic derby which was producing little in the way of good football.

There was another scramble in front of goal which saw Reyna, under pressure, sliding the ball wide after a half-hit shot from Phillips on the right had been allowed to run towards goal.

But Given had to make a brilliant save in the 37th minute to keep out a shot from Phillips. A flick-on header from Quinn saw Phillips breaking forward between two defenders and his powerful right foot shot was pushed up into the air before being scrambled away.

Sunderland almost grabbed the lead in the final minute of normal first half time when Kilbane unleashed a left foot shot from the edge of the box and Given saved the day with a another fine save, pushing the ball round the post.

Sunderland brought on their latest signing, Cameroon international Patrick Mboma in place of Quinn after half time and he was given a rousing reception by the home fans.

The former African Player of the Year was quickly in action with a glancing header but he had pushed his marker before McAteer put the ball straight into the arms of Given.

Sunderland had a dramatic escape in the 53rd minute when Bellamy, supplied by Solano, centred perfectly for Robert, whose close-range shot came back off the legs of Sorensen right on the goal-line. The big Dane didn't know much about it - but it was a crucial save.

The Wearsiders, broke quickly and Reyna found himself with a clear-cut shooting opportunity as he burst through from the right, but he disappointingly drove his left-foot shot wide of the target in the 54th minute.

Alhtough the football hadn't been great by any stretch of the imagination both sides had created openings - and both goalkeepers had risen to the occasion.

An awkward bouncing ball fell to Dabizas in the 59th minute and his first-time right foot shot struck the angle of the crossbar before travelling into the crowd - a close call.

There was certainly plenty of effort and action for the spectators, and Mboma was over-enthusiastic with a challenge on Robert, earning a yellow card - and the free-kick saw United take the lead.

Robert lifted the free-kick into the danger-zone and a flick-on by Shearer helped the ball through to Dabizas, who headed home from close range.

It was a body-blow for Sunderland and the goal sparked crowd trouble in the East Stand, with police and stewards moving in quickly.

Newcastle kept up the pressure and Haas was obliged to head over his own bar to prevent a right wing centre from Solano reaching the danger zone.

Sunderland brought on left sided midfielder Thomas Butler in place of Schwarz in the 70th minute in a bid to get back into a game which had swung Newcastle's way.

But United could have grabbed a second goal when Shearer fed Bellamy near the post, but his close-range header was directed straight at Sorensen and then the keeper had to save a strong right foot shot from Jermaine Jenas.

Mboma showed some neat footwork on the left winning a corner, but McAteer's centre was far too strong to cause the United defence any problems.

Newcastle still seemed to have the edge on their rivals but they had to thank goalkeeper Given for an absolutely brilliant save which prevented Phillips from snatching an equaliser in the 84th minute. The England striker curled in a tremendous right-foot shot from the edge of the box and the effort looked destined for the top corner until Given managed to get his hand to the ball to push it wide of the angle.

It was enough to keep United's noses in front - and leave Sunderland, without a home win this year, hovering above the danger zone after taking only five points from their last eight games.