Tyne v Wear 1968/69
Summary
Success in the Fairs Cup was not reflected in United's inconsistent League form and as a result they finished in 10th. But this was better than Sunderland who suffered a collapse in the second half of the season that left them in 17th, only four points ahead of the relegation slots.
Newcastle were also the better side in both the derby matches, but a lack of finishing power meant they ended up sharing the spoils.
| 1968/69 | 31st Aug | Div 1 | Sunderland [A] | Drew | 1-1 [1-0] | 49,807 |
- McFaul
- Craig [s]
- Clark
- Gibb
- McNamee
- Burton
- Scott
- Robson 1
- Davies
- Ellot
- Allen
- Iley [s2]
- Montgomery
- Harvey
- Ashurst
- Hurley
- Todd
- Porterfield
- Herd
- Harris
- Stuckey
- Suggett 1
- Mullhall
- Palmer [s3]
United were in 12th having drawn four of the six matches played so far; Sunderland had the same number of points in 10th
The game was a sell-out and the crowd enjoyed a rousing match in which the fare on offer kept them "in a ferment" .
United included Tommy Gibb in their line up; a player who had made an excellent impact in his first weeks on Tyneside and who had nearly joined Sunderland a few months before. It was almost a full strength side with the exception of captain Moncur
In the first period Newcastle were so dominant that McFaul did not have to deal with a direct shot on goal. But they only had a single cooly taken Robson goal to show for their superiority.
Scott also had the ball in the net but the goal was controversially disallowed after the linesman intervened.
The second half started in the same vein, but United's play became less decisive and Sunderland edged their way back in. United's sixties nemesis Suggett missed two glorious opportunities before levelling the score in the 69th minute.
After that both sides had chances to win the game but there was no further scoring. United had dominated three quarters of the match with their "power play"; unfortunately they lacked the necessary punch to secure a victory.
| 1968/69 | 22nd Mar | Div 1 | Sunderland [H] | Drew | 1-1 [1-0] | 48,588 |
- McFaul
- Craggs
- Clark
- Gibb
- Burton
- Moncur
- Sinclair 1
- Robson
- Davies
- Scott
- Foggon
- Horsfield [s11]
- Montgomery
- Harvey
- Ashurst
- Heslop
- Pitt
- Todd
- Harris
- Palmer
- Moore
- Suggett 1
- Tueart
- Hughes
The return fixture was played almost six months later and United were in confident mood having thrashed Vittoria Setubal 5-1 in the previous game ten days earlier; although indifferent League form had them languishing in 16th.
Sunderland were in a disastrous run having lost their last four and eight out of the last ten and had slumped to 16th place.
The attendance was the highest for a League match that season.
Once again United were by far the better team and controlled the game from start to finish. This time they were thwarted time and time again by a brilliant performance from Montgomery.
Scott gave United a perfect start when he opened the scoring after only seven minutes with a shot on the turn which trickled past the mud-stuck-footed keeper.
They dominated the first period and McFaul only had one shot to save; but as in the first fixture United's reward for their territorial superiority was of the slenderest variety.
The second forty-five saw the flow continue but United seemed to gradually lose heart and in the 82nd minute the sucker-punch duly arrived with Suggett (again) scrambling in from close-range.
United stormed back and a minute before the end Monty was finally beaten again, but Robson's ferocious shot rebounded from the angle of post and crossbar.
So another draw, but whereas the first match had entertained, overly physical play by both teams disrupted the flow at St James' and it was a poor game.
On the same day there was another derby taking place in London - Tottenham verses Chelsea - and around 100 hooligans ran wild through Earls Court and Notting Hill tube stations smashing every bit of glass in sight and hospitalising an underground employee