Tyne v Wear - 1961/62
Summary
United really struggled on their return to Division 2 and spent the majority of the season hovering around the relegation zone. Somehow they ended up 11th; the top of eight teams who finished on 39 points.
A late surge by the Wearsiders almost brought them promotion but they finished third.
| 1961/62 | 2nd Dec | Div 2 | Sunderland [H] | Drew | 2-2 [1-0] | 53,991 |
- Hollins
- Keith
- McMichael
- Wright
- McGrath
- Bell
- Hughes
- Allchurch
- White [1]
- McGuigan [1]
- Wilson J
- Wakeham
- Urwin
- Ashurst
- Anderson
- Hurley
- McNab
- Hooper
- Herd
- Clough [2]
- Fogarty
- Overfield
Newcastle had made a disastrous start to their life in Division 2 and it cost Charlie Mitten his job. Trainer Norman Smith took temporary control and they were slowly getting their game together at least at home where they had won four out of their last five.
United were in 11th whilst Sunderland - who had also recovered from a poor start were 5th.
It was a "derby" in the true sense of the word, with lots of thrills and spills and precious little "pure" football. One of the keenest contests was between Ivor Allchurch and Jimmy McNab, the Sunderland player being pulled up frequently for some robust challenges.
The first half was an even affair but United who went in at the interval a goal ahead. Wilson set off on a weaving run before laying the ball to the near post where an unmarked White scooped the ball past Wakeham. Sunderland stormed back without equalising.
After 66 minutes Hooper set off on a brilliant run down the right before sending in a low cross. Hollins got a finger to it, but only succeeded in diverting the ball towards Brian Clough who bundled in at the far post despite the attentions of Dick Keith.
From the kick-off Clough gave away a foul. McMichael laid it to Allchurch who forwarded it on to McGuigan who slammed the ball home from 20 yards to restore United's lead.
Then, with only five minutes left Hooper brilliantly set up Clough who bundled in his second equaliser in an almost carbon copy of the first. There was still time for Bell and Hooper (twice) to almost win the match but a draw was the fairest result in what had been a cracking contest.
| 1961/62 | 21st Apr | D2 | Sunderland [A] | Lost | 0-3 [0-1] | 57,666 |
- Hollins
- Keith
- McMichael
- Wright
- Thomson
- Dalton
- Day
- Kerray
- Thomas
- Allchurch
- Fell
- Montgomery
- Urwin
- Ashurst
- Anderson
- Hurley
- McNab
- Hooper
- Herd [2]
- Clough
- McPheat [1]
- Overfield
United were in lowly 15th, although they had found a bit of form with five wins in their last seven matches. Sunderland were finishing very strongly and after winning their last four games found themselves in with a chance of promotion.
There was a "cup final" atmosphere for the match and with 20 minutes to kick-off the ground was almost full whilst thousands more were still queuing up outside.
It was symbolic of United's shambolic season that shirt numbers 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11 were all worn by players who had not taken part in the first match.
Torrential rain both before and during the game turned the pitch into a quagmire . United fought well with Thompson doing an excellent job on Clough and Allchurch at his brilliant best but in the end United were a well beaten side
For the first twenty minutes it was a different story as United swarmed all over Sunderland. Fell was guilty of missing two presentable chances and when the first goal came it was in the Wearsiders favour. Herd slotted the ball past Hollins with United's defenders believing he was offside.
The Second Half was all Sunderland and they missed numerous chances before they doubled their advantage in the 76th minute. Hooper was again our nemesis when his brilliant shot beat Hollins only for it to stick in the mud inches from the goal-line. McPheat reacted first and prodded the ball home.
United tried to retaliate and Fell hit the bar bafore Herd made it three with eight minutes remaining. Only a spectacular headed clearance from McMichael prevented an even worse scoreline.
It was Sunderland's most comprehensive victory over United for over thirty years and gave them a good chance of promotion; in the end they "unfortunately" (sic) missed out.