Sunderland 2-1 Newcastle United

Sunderland ended their 28-year wait for a home win over Newcastle United.

Former Manchester United midfielder Kieran Richardson blasted a free-kick past Shay Given with 15 minutes remaining as a pulsating derby drew to a tense finish.

Shola Ameobi had earlier cancelled out Djibril Cisse's opener before the break, but then wasted a glorious chance to put the visitors ahead 13 minutes after half-time.

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Sunderland ended their 28-year wait for a home victory over Newcastle United with a 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light.

Kieran Richardson was the hero when, a week after twice being denied with free-kicks at Fulham, he smashed home a stunning winner from a similar position with 15 minutes remaining.

Djibril Cisse had earlier given the home side a 20th-minute lead, although that was cancelled out by Shola Ameobi within 10 minutes.

Ameobi, who had not scored in two years before Monday's draw with Manchester City, might have doubled his tally 13 minutes after the break, but substitute Kenwyne Jones headed just over and

Cisse hit the post as the home side threatened to win more comfortably in front of a passionate sell-out crowd of 47,936.

For 20 minutes or more, the home fans revelled in seeing their side assume total control as they mastered the blustery conditions and took the match to their opponents.

exchanged passes

In a first half of few chances, Steven Taylor had to take the ball off Dean Whitehead's toe as he prepared to shoot, and was then grateful to see Cisse wrong-footed by his mis-kick as he attempted to clear El-Hadji Diouf's cross.

However, with Sunderland in the ascendancy, the opening goal arrived with 20 minutes gone when Steed Malbranque, whose link up with full-back Pascal Chimbonda down the right caused all sorts of problems for the Magpies, drilled the ball across goal for Cisse to slide in and divert it past Shay Given.

But Newcastle gradually worked their way back into the match. Danny Collins and Anton Ferdinand had to make good blocks from Duff and Martins as the visitors finally made an impression in enemy territory.

However, it was man of the moment Ameobi who got his side back on terms, rising unopposed to power a 30th-minute header past keeper Marton Fulop, earning a rare start in place of the injured Craig Gordon.

If anything, the visitors held the upper hand as the half drew to a close and Fulop, who had looked less than certain under a series of high balls, made a solid 43rd-minute save from Damien Duff after he had exchanged passes with Obafemi Martins and powered his way into the box.

Cisse sent an overhead kick over the bar, but Martins smashed a left-footed volley just wide with the visitors continuing to make a fist of it.

switched wings

With Duff and Geremi having switched wings at the break in an effort to curb Chimbonda's influence, the Magpies looked to have a better balance, although they were presented with a different problem with 57 minutes gone.

It was then that Roy Keane decided that the time was right to introduce Jones as a replacement, although it was Ameobi who almost gave his side the lead seconds later.

Martins broke from halfway and slid the ball into his strike partner's path but, after cutting inside, he sent his left-footed shot high over the bar.

Given had to block Cisse's scuffed shot and then watch Richardson's volley fly wide as Sunderland responded.

But the midfielder finally got his goal with 15 minutes remaining when, after Nicky Butt had tripped Diouf on the edge of the box, he smashed the resulting free-kick into the top corner.

Jones might have sealed the win two minutes later with a header which flew agonisingly over the bar, and Cisse smashed a long-range shot against the post, but despite a late flurry from the visitors, the points were safe.

(by.Barclays Premier League, http://www.premierleague.com/page/MatchReports/)