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Lucky socks?
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez was pictured on the touchline today in the draw with Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby wearing socks depicting South Park character Eric Cartman, or more specifically, Police Officer Cartman from the episode "Chickenlover".
So, in true trademark Police Officer Cartman style, Benitez must have asked his players to "respect his authoritah" at half-time, to inspire them to fight back from a goal down to salvadge a draw with their local rivals.
In the match, Aleksandar Mitrovic headed a late equaliser to end Newcastle's miserable losing run against neighbours and rivals Sunderland but the draw still left both teams deep in the Premier League relegation mire.
The Serbian soared at the far post to nod man-of-the-match Georginio Wijnaldum's 79th-minute chipped cross back into the opposite corner just as the home fans at St James' Park were preparing for a seventh straight defeat at the hands of the Black Cats.
Show all 22 1 /22Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Jak Alnwick Almost had a horror start when he rolled a clearance too far for Coloccini to reach, but recovered to make a string of fine saves 7
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Darryl Janmaat As solid a presence as ever, though looked a little off the pace defensively on occasion on his return from suspension in midweek. Shanked a second-half shot wide when well placed. 6
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Steven Taylor Brave to a fault, a crucial intervention early in the second half to prevent Fletcher heading the opener resulted in a painful clash of heads with the goalpost. 6
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Fabricio Coloccini The captain is the keystone at the heart of the Newcastle defence. Marshalled his troops when under the cosh in the first half, though was booked for holding back Larsson 7
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Paul Dummett Provided little in attack apart from one overhit cross – not up to his standards of recent months from the juvenile Welshman. 5
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Cheick Tiote Booked in the first half, he nevertheless performed an important role breaking up play and attempting to start attacks from deep. 7
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Jack Colback All the pre-match talk centred upon the former Sunderland man and boyhood Newcastle fan. But Colback was a peripheral presence early on, and performed most of his work in the defensive third of the pitch. 6
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Yoan Gouffran The winger-cum-forward ever suggests good if never great things, but his sinuous style was out of step with such a rambunctious encounter. 4
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Moussa Sissoko Far from his usual all-action presence, the France midfielder shadowed Sunderland bodies in the first half but improved markedly in the second and forced a fingertip save from Pantilimon. 7
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Sammy Ameobi The young striker never quite convinces that he has the entire package holiday deal needed to be a Premier League success, but he has something about him. A cute reverse ball to Sissoko early on hinted at the class hidden in the lanky frame. 7
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Ayoze Perez An intermittent threat. Curled a superb strike narrowly wide on 35 minutes and was foiled by Coates when almost through on goal a minute later and continued to look like Newcastle’s most likely outlet for a goal 8in the second period. 8
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Costel Pantilimon Occasionally suspect from crosses, the on-loan Manchester City keeper did well to hold a Sissoko shot in the first half and an Armstrong drive in the second, and had to be at his very best to tip Sissoko’s late piledriver over the bar. 7
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Santiago Vergini A fine cross midway through the first half should have produced better than a Wickham header into Alnwick’s arms. 7
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Sebastian Coates A late replacement for Reveillere, the on-loan defender did not seem cowed by the occasion and produced several important interventions, though bhe was booked in the first half. 7
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Wes Brown Found wanting on occasion by the clever Perez, but stood up well in general to the Newcastle attack. 6
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings John O'Shea If not quite a quintessential captain’s performance, this was a solid display from O’Shea in front of a midfield that occasionally left him and his defensive bedfellows exposed. 7
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Lee Cattermole Kept his cool after a fre3netic opening few minutes when he was watched hawkishly by Anthony Taylor. A dominant presence in the Sunderland midfield before departing with a knee injury. 8
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Adam Johnson Stuttered through the game, but that matters little in comparison to the magnitude of his 89th-minute winner – a thumping finish from a mazy run. 9
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Sebastian Larsson Wicked first-half cross found Steven Fletcher’s boot and then the bar. The oft-derided midfielder had one of his better days in a Sunderland shirt. 8
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Jordi Gomez Guilty as charged of one of the misses of the season, to rival Altidore’s against West Ham last week, when he lashed a perfect Fletcher cut-back over the bar. Otherwise solid if unremarkable. 4
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Connor Wickham A threat throughout, and seems to have formed a good understanding with Fletcher. Showed a different facet to his game by dropping deep to receive possession, and should have had an assist when Johnson missed the target from his measure through-ball. 8
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Newcastle vs Sunderland player ratings Steven Fletcher Would have had the goal his performance deserved were it not for Taylor’s bravery. Kicked from post to pillar in the first half but was always a danger. 8
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Sunderland had gone ahead a minute before half-time when Jermain Defoe volleyed in his 12th goal of the season and they held out under plenty of Newcastle second-half pressure, even clearing off the line through Yann M'Vila soon after the break.
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