Full-time: Newcastle United 0 Sunderland 1

JUST when it seemed Newcastle United had done enough to prevent a fourth successive defeat to rivals Sunderland, Adam Johnson arrived in style to give the whole of Wearside the perfect early Christmas gift – at St James’ Park.

After Alan Pardew, the Newcastle boss, had given instructions to push on in search of his first home win over the Black Cats since taking over, Johnson’s brilliance on the counter-attack resulted in the 90th minute winner which deflated Tyneside hearts.

For the first time in Sunderland’s history they have beaten their staunchest Tyne-Wear rivals for the fourth time in a row – and Johnson has scored in all three of those at St James’ Park.

After successive 3-0 wins, scoring the dramatic late winner after a topsy-turvy and enthralling goalless opening 90 minutes in front of the Gallowgate will have been even sweeter for the Easington-born winger.

After turning defence in to attack, shrugging off a couple of heavy challenges, and eventually planting the winner beyond Newcastle’s rookie goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, Sunderland had a goal to savour.

When referee Anthony Taylor blew his whistle for the final time, Newcastle – with five locally picked up players in their starting line-up – were dejected after a pulsating encounter which looked like ending in a first goalless draw since May 1990.

Newcastle duo Paul Dummett and Sammy Ameobi dropped to their knees, Spaniard Ayoze Perez was stunned, shaking his head, while at the same time Johnson was mobbed by his team-mates.

The victory provides Sunderland with some real festive cheer, lifting them up to 14th and within four points of Newcastle, who must try to avoid any knock-on effects from potentially demoralising defeats to Tottenham in the Capital One Cup quarter-final and then this loss.

When Frenchman Anthony Reveillere limped out of the warm-up with a calf problem, the late change to the shape and set-up of the defence could have been a real cause of concern for Sunderland.

Newcastle’s high pressing start also looked like making the most of those late selection problems. Sebastien Coates was the man preferred to slot in and within two minutes he had received the first of five first half cautions.

He was caught cold by the quick feet of Perez on the edge of the box. Dummett’s poor free-kick let Sunderland off the hook, although it was not the sort of start Sunderland needed moments after being forced to move skipper John O’Shea to left-back.

But after Newcastle had looked dangerous and likely to find the net, Sunderland soon found their feet on the slippery Tyneside turf. Ameobi and Moussa Sissoko wasted a couple of decent opportunities in the area, although it was Alnwick that was the busier of the two keepers.

After the mutual respect was shown from both sets of fans in the 17th minute in memory of John Alder and Liam Sweeney – who lost their lives on flight MH17 in the summer – it was almost at that point when the balance of the game changed.

Sunderland caused problems regularly for the Newcastle defence by moving the ball upfield quickly and if either side deserved to be up at the break then it was the men wearing red and white.

The best of the chances fell to Steven Fletcher just before the half hour. Seb Larsson’s reverse flick over the home defence dropped invitingly for the Scotland striker, whose shot on the slide shaved the top of the crossbar.

Connor Wickham should also have scored with at least one of three good efforts. He had already headed wide from inside six yards before Alnwick made two solid saves from a strike with his right foot and then from a free header.

After the restart Sunderland carried on where they left off the first and Fletcher looked destined to score at the back post when Wickham’s brilliant byline cross evaded Alnwick. Steven Taylor, who horribly headed the post on his way back down, somehow flicked it away when the breakthrough looked on.

By the time Taylor had returned from the dressing room stitched up, Newcastle had stood firm to keep the score goalless, although how an unmarked Jordi Gomez completely missed the target from 12 yards he will never know.

As the minutes ticked by and Alnwick’s net refused to bulge, there was always a chance that Newcastle could take advantage of Sunderland’s scoring problems. Had it not been for Costel Pantilimon’s brilliant one-handed save to deny Perez from finding the top corner then they would have done.

That lifted Newcastle, though, and Geordie hearts were left to wonder how Sissoko was unable to get something on a lowly-driven cross from Ameobi seconds before Papiss Cisse was told to warm up for the first time.

Seconds before Cisse’s introduction, homegrown substitute Adam Armstrong was left frustrated when his low shot was well held by Pantilimon after the youngster had worked his way behind the Sunderland defence. The Romanian keeper also held a similar effort from Perez.

Just as it seemed the game would be heading for a draw, Pardew kept driving his players on in search of the winner. That created openings at the other end too for Sunderland, though.

While the Sunderland backline kept clearing their lines, the greater chances were presenting themselves at Alnwick’s goal. Johnson wasted an incredible chance when he side-footed wide after rounding Coloccini, but the winger’s big moment eventually arrived.

After a Newcastle attack led to the ball dropping to Johnson in his own half, he turned his man before somehow staying on his feet after some strong attention from Sissoko and then Dummett. After driving to the heart of the Newcastle half, he found Fletcher.

The striker could not get a shot away, he crossed to Will Buckley at the back post. Buckley side-footed in to the path of Johnson, who took a touch before firing in to Alnwick’s left.

Larsson could even have added a second after that, but found the side netting and then when the final whistle Newcastle players dropped to the floor as the Sunderland contingent went crazy.