Anthony Stokes grabbed two goals to give Sunderland a well-deserved derby win over Newcastle tonight.
The Republic of Ireland striker opened the scoring in the first half and netted a second just after the hour mark at Kingston Park.
It completed a good night's work for the 19-year-old, who hasn't featured for Sunderland since their 2-1 defeat at Reading before Christmas.
Youngster Jamie Chandler, a second half substitute, completed the win with an 82nd-minute goal after Black Cats defender Peter Hartley gave Newcastle a lifeline with an unlucky own goal.
Neil Bailey named a strong side for the Wear-Tyne derby, with Greg Halford taking up an unfamiliar central midfield role alongside Liam Miller and
Stokes lining up with David Connolly up front.
Defender Russell Anderson also got an invaluable 90 minutes under his belt as he played for the first time since recovering from an ankle operation last year, while Ian Harte and Ross Wallace were also in the Sunderland starting XI.
Stokes went close after 14 minutes when his left-footed drive from just outside the penalty box flashed just wide of Fraser Forster's right-hand post, and he worked the United 'keeper again in the 20th minute when he got on the end of Jake Richardson's right-sided cross but his header was comfortably gathered.
The home side went the closest to opening the scoring after 21minutes when Jonathan Godsmark found space on the right to send over a cross to the far post for striker Andrew Carroll, but he could only turn the ball back across the face of goal and Sunderland cleared.
Stokes hit the post a minute later when he was put through with a clever ball by Miller, but he made amends in the 23rd minute. After a mix-up in the United defence,
Miller laid the ball off for Stokes and he hit a low, right-footed drive past Forster's right.
The visitors almost doubled their lead a minute later when Miller sent over a curling cross from the left and Halford came steaming to meet the ball with a thumping header that smacked Forster's left-hand post.
Connolly should have buried a chance to make it two after 53 minutes when substitute
David Dowson played Stokes in on the right and he played a ball in behind the United defence for the striker, but Forster did well to save at his feet.
But Stokes made it two just after the hour mark with a well-worked goal. Connolly played the ball to Miller about 30 yards from goal and, after shaping up to shoot, played a slide-rule ball to Stokes on the right inside the penalty area and he hammered an acute, low drive which crept just inside Forster's left-hand post.
United pulled one back just five minutes later when Cats goalkeeper Trevor Carson could only parry Carr's strong free-kick and when Hartley tried to control the ball it bounced off him and past the Sunderland 'keeper.
The home side had a great chance to equalise in the 80th minute when Carroll dispossessed Anderson and played a clever ball through to the attacking Godsmark, but Carson raced out the box and slid in at his feet to clear.
The visitors grabbed their third in the 82nd minute with another well-worked goal. Dowson crossed from the right and Connolly did well inside the area to lay off for sub Chandler, and he buried his chance with a right-footed drive past Forster.
Connolly almost made it four in the last minute when he was put through but he could only hit the side netting under pressure from Edgar.
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