Sunderland AFC U21 2 Newcastle United U21 0

Youngsters win Wear-Tyne derby

Laidler and Smith secure 2-0 win for the young Black Cats.
Sunderland’s development squad closed the gap on Barclays U21 Premier League leaders Fulham to one point with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light.

Jordan Laidler and Martin Smith bagged second-half goals for Kevin Ball’s side on an evening of thorough profession and work ethic from the young Black Cats.

Sunderland, who haven’t played a competitive fixture in three weeks, were efficient off the ball and constantly probing when in possession as they extended their unbeaten run to three league games.

The young Black Cats battled hard in the early stages and, despite seeing more of the ball, struggled to break down an experienced Magpies’ backline that featured Paul Dummett, Remie Streete and Massadio Haidara.

Dummett and Newcastle midfielder Alex Gilliead both headed wide in the opening half hour with the first real chances of the game.

Ross Holland fed through Laidler for the young Black Cats’ first chance of the first-half, though the North Shields-born frontman fired wide on the angle.

Michael Richardson found rare space in between Sunderland’s central defensive pairing of Tom McNamee and Scott Harrison ten minutes before the break but he headed straight at Jordan Pickford in the Black Cats’ goal.

England U19 international stopper Pickford had to be sharp to deny Gilliead an opener early in the second-half as the Magpies’ wide man cut in from the left and fired a low shot down to the Washington-born keeper’s right.

Ball’s side continued to push for an opener, though their efforts looked to be in vein as George Honeyman fired across the six-yard box and Laidler’s faint touch steered the ball wide at the far post.

However, Laidler was presented with the opportunity to make amends when Connor Oliver was bundled over by Streete just inside the penalty area with the Sunderland striker stepping up to send Jak Alnwick in the Newcastle goal to his right but firing the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

Laidler could have doubled the advantage minutes later as he showed power to beat Dummett and latch onto Pickford’s long kick before firing wide from just inside the area.

Smith was denied a goal after being on the pitch for just eight minutes as he latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the area and saw his curling effort excellently saved low to his left by Alnwick.

However, the Redby-born youngster, who captains Sunderland’s under-18 side, was not to be denied a dream Stadium of Light debut as he latched onto Lynden Gooch’s through ball and exquisitely poked past Alnwick.

Ball’s side return to action at Everton next Monday evening knowing a win could take them back to the top of the Barclays U21 Premier League.

Sunderland: Pickford, Cartwright (Smith, 70), Ferguson, Oliver (Beadling, 72), Harrison, McNamee, Mitchell, Laing, Laidler, Honeyman, Holland (Gooch, 77).

Newcastle United's reserve-team coach Willie Donachie has been suspended by the club after allegations emerged over a bust-up with a youth team player, reports The Daily Telegraph.

The dressing room bust-up allegedly occurred straight after the U21 game against Sunderland, where his side were easily beaten by their local rivals. Laidler and Smith scored goals as Donachie's side were comfortably overcome by Kevin Ball's Sunderland youngsters.

Donachie, who had a successful playing career with Manchester City, was reportedly furious with his side following their 4-0 victory over the same opposition only a few weeks ago.

The club has launched a full investigations into the remarks and have subsequently suspended Donachie from his duties whilst the investigation is ongoing. 

The defeat for the U21 side came after the first team were beaten in their Tyne-Wear derby clash against Gus Poyet's senior Sunderland side 3-0 only two days earlier. 

http://www.thewebcomiclist.com/o/8538

Newcastle United reserve team coach Willie Donachie quits in wake of allegations he hit a player

Newcastle United reserve team coach Willie Donachie resigned on Thursday night following an allegation that he had hit one of his players

Reserve team coach Willie Donachie, who had earlier been told to stay away from the training ground after it was claimed he had punched Remie Streete, a 19-year-old centre-back, following the under-21 side’s 2-0 defeat by Sunderland on Monday has left Newcastle United.

The reserve team’s loss at the Stadium of Light came only 48 hours after the senior side had been beaten by their local rivals 3-0 at St James’ Park and Donachie was furious with his players. Newcastle had knocked Sunderland out of the FA Youth Cup a few weeks earlier, winning 4-0, and Donachie felt his side had not played as well as they should on Monday, which prompted a row with Streete.

Donachie, who had a successful playing career with Manchester City, took charge of Newcastle’s under-21s and development squad three years ago. He was highly rated by the Newcastle regime, but they were left with no alternative but to suspend him after the allegation.

Last night, Newcastle announced on their website that he had resigned “with immediate effect.” The statement added that the club would be making no further comment. His exit capped a dramatic week at St James’ Park that began with the sacking of Joe Kinnear, the director of football.

News of the Donachie incident came a few hours after Newcastle manager Alan Pardew had revealed he would be happy to work with a director of football again, despite Kinnear’s many failures at St James’ Park.

Pardew’s relationship with Kinnear was a strained one from start to finish, although this was mainly due to the fact Newcastle’s former director of football seemed to be incapable of doing the job properly.

Kinnear was asked to step down on Monday and Pardew revealed much about the dysfunctional way the club is run when he revealed he had not discussed that decision with the owner, Mike
Ashley, either before, or after it happened.

Although Pardew told television reporters that he was “sad” to see Kinnear leave, the fact he has not spoken to his former boss since he was sacked reveals more about the difficult relationship they had.

“I was surprised that the decision to get rid of Joe was made at that time, but it was not my decision,” said Pardew.

“I don’t have a problem with the position of director of football, in modern football, a lot of [clubs] have them, there is so much involved in transfers in terms of the other club, agents, preparations and the finances involved that it goes away from what we did 10 years ago. That part has gone for managers.”

Sunderland’s Top 10 League Cup moments: No 8 - Bristol City hit for six

SUNDERLAND fans will be hoping the greatest moment in the club’s League Cup history comes a week tomorrow, when they take on Manchester City in the Capital One Cup final.

In the 10 days leading up to the showpiece occasion at Wembley, the Gazette is going to take you through the top 10 moments the club has enjoyed in the competition.

Gazette sports writer DANIEL PRINCE talks us through No 8 on the list: a classic comeback against Bristol City in 1990.

After Sunderland lost the first leg of this second round tie 1-0 at Roker Park, their prospects didn’t look good.

However, they went on to blitz their opponents in the return game.

German striker Thomas Hauser got the ball rolling after just 28 seconds, although the home side equalised on five minutes through Nicky Morgan.

Sunderland goalkeeper Tony Norman was forced to make a string of fine saves to keep the Black Cats in the tie before half-time, before the Wearsiders really got into their stride.

Kevin Ball scored his first goal for the club just before half-time, before strikes from Gary Owers, Tony Cullen and a Marco Gabbiadini brace secured a thumping win.

Sunderland were dumped out of the competition 6-0 in the next round by Derby, but the win at Bristol City still lives long in the memory.