Brian Brobbey scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner as Sunderland came from behind to beat Newcastle United in a thrilling Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park.

Newcastle had been on target for their first home victory in this fixture since 2010 when Anthony Gordon gave the hosts a ninth-minute lead.

Sunderland played out from the back but defender Luke O'Nien's pass was intercepted by Nick Woltemade and he gave it to Gordon, who did the rest to score his 17th goal of the season.

The hosts almost made it 2-0 just before the break, but Sven Botman headed against the post following a cross from left-back Lewis Hall, one of five Newcastle players to be included in Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad.

The match was paused early in the second half by referee Anthony Taylor because of reports of discriminatory abuse from the crowd towards Sunderland's Lutsharel Geertruida.

After a three-minute delay in which Taylor spoke to both sets of coaching staff, Geertruida and Granit Xhaka, the visitors equalised in the 57th minute.

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, another called up by Tuchel, did not get great distance on a punch, the ball was played back into the box, Brobbey chested it goalwards and Dan Burn cleared off the line, only for Chemsdine Talbi to fire in the rebound.

Noah Sadiki had a chance to put Sunderland ahead, only for him to shoot at Ramsdale.

Yet it did not prove costly as Brobbey scored the late winner, to the delight of the away fans, when he converted a rebound from close range after Ramsdale saved his first attempt.

The result gives Sunderland their first league double over Newcastle since 2014-15.

Before the game, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe had spoken of looking for a quick return to Europe. That came on the back of a humiliating Champions League elimination on Wednesday when they conceded four second-half goals to lose 7-2 at Barcelona and 8-3 on aggregate in their last-16 tie.

Depending on who wins the FA Cup, eighth in the Premier League may be enough to secure European football next season, and at half-time Newcastle were heading ninth and would have been only one point behind eighth-placed Everton with seven league games to go.

But, in a turnaround that had not looked likely, Sunderland responded superbly after the break and were much the better team.

In the end, the away supporters, situated high behind the goal where their team had scored twice, were the ones left cheering as they followed their 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light with another success.

After Sadiki's shot was saved by Ramsdale when it was 1-1, Newcastle thought they had regained the lead with substitute Malick Thiaw heading into the net from Lewis Hall's corner.

However, the home cheers soon turned to grumbles when the goal was ruled out with Jacob Murphy impeding goalkeeper Melker Ellborg while also standing in an offside position.

Newcastle drop to 12th, one place below Sunderland, with this result a big blow to Howe's hopes of an instant return to continental action.

The atmosphere at the end was in marked contrast earlier when thousands of black, white and gold flags had been placed on chairs for the home supporters to wave.

That, along with a spectacular tifo that ran along the side of one of the stands, produced a stunning visual display as the players came out.

The home supporters also held up banners, mocking Sunderland's absence from the top flight with one saying 'Welcome to the region's capital, you've been gone for so long'.

But, in the end, the visitors were the ones who had the last laugh.

After Regis le Bris' team won promotion from the Championship via the play-offs, the Tyne-Wear derby was back on for the first time since 2015-16.

Sunderland have had an excellent campaign, including a 1-0 win over Newcastle in December, but this may be the best moment of the season for the Black Cats fans.

Newcastle have now not won a league game against their bitter rivals in 11 attempts.

Despite going into the break a goal behind, Sunderland had shown they were dangerous when Talbi's superb curling effort from 25 yards was pushed over the bar by Ramsdale.

But with Brobbey a constant handful for the Newcastle defence, the visitors piled on the pressure and got an equaliser.

The expected Newcastle response did not materalise, with Xhaka having a shot deflected over, Sadiki seeing an effort saved and Brobbey having an attempt blocked by Thiaw.

In the end, Sunderland got their rewards with a result that takes them up to 43 points, guaranteeing their Premier League survival.

However, with seven games to go, they will be wondering just how high could they end up. A push for European football, although unlikely, could still be on the cards in a wonderful season.

After the international break, Newcastle have league matches at Crystal Palace on Saturday, 11 April, home to Bournemouth a week later and then at leaders Arsenal on 25 April.

Sunderland host Tottenham on Sunday, 12 April, and play at Aston Villa seven days later before returning to the Stadium of Light against Nottingham Forest on Friday, 24 April.