Steve McClaren's Newcastle United nightmare continued this afternoon, as the Magpies were downed 2-0 away at Sunderland in a fiery North East derby earlier today.

The Magpies had been in cruise control for most of the first half, until captain Fabricio Coloccini felled Steven Fletcher in the box just before half-time. Adam Johnson duly converted the spot kick to join Kevin Phillips as the Black Cats' highest scorer in this fixture.

For all of their possession and neat passing, the visitors could find a way through and squandered what little chances they had. £13.5m Aleksandar Mitrovic forced Costel Pantilimon into a great save - though the young Serb should really have scored.

Billy Jones then bundled in from a corner after substitute Jermaine Defoe's effort made its way into a crowded box, and Steven Fletcher completed the rout.

Though Newcastle can take positives away from the performance, and rightly feel aggrieved at the referee Bobby Madley, fans will be devastated after being compounded to a sixth consecutive derby defeat.

COLOCCINI A LIABILITY

The Newcastle captain is too old to be a regular in a Premier league team these days. He was hugely at fault for the penalty, and undid ALL the good work his teammates had put in for swathes of the first-half.

The Argentine has been a wonderful servant over the years, but should be cut loose. Far too erratic and has become stale.

A symbol of the club's decline in recent years, he should be afforded a return to Argentina as soon as January and allow the Toon to move on.

DEFOE STILL GOT IT

Jermain Defoe had seemed to be largely forgotten as Sunderland struggled at the bottom the league. However, his introduction changed the game.

Coming on for Ola Toivonen, who was injured late in the first half, it was the former England star who provided the perfectly weighted pass that led to the penalty.

It was he who then initially fired as Billy Jones scrambled home for the second goal.

If Sunderland are going to say up, their forgotten man is likely to be crucial.

WIJNALDUM THE BEATING HEART

Georgino Wijnaldum did not make as many headlines as Mitrovic when he arrived this summer, but has quickly established himself as the most important player in the Toon Army.

He drops deep, wins the ball back. drives forward and pries in and around the box.

Was hugely unlucky not to win a penalty merely seconds before Adam Johnson converted his.