Dazed and confused but Aleksandar Mitrovic has done his job. Big Sam and Rafa shake hands and Sunderland are now 18 games without a clean sheet. That's two games in succession where they have thrown away leads late on. Gutting. 

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Aleksandar Mitrovic looks dazed on the bench, and that's the final whistle. 

Where has this game been lurking? It's almost all over as Vito Mannone gathers another cross. He's played well today. 

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The Newcastle staff are holding Aleksandar Mitrovic back, he wants back on. But he can't. Newcastle down to 10 men as Sunderland attack. The ball is almost pounced on by Fabio Borini after a mistake in the Newcastle defence. This game has come to life, at last.

Vurnon Anita now dishes up a lovely cross from the right, Aleksandar Mitrovic leaps once more and with a clash of heads, he looks in trouble. Then there's a altercation on the touchline. Was it Sam and Rafa having words? Thankfully, Mitrovic is ok but he's going off. He doesn't want to, though. 

Moussa Sissoko on the charge, tackled by Lee Cattermole. Aleksandar Mitrovic then goes for the ball and barges DeAndre Yedlin out of play. Free-kick with Vito Mannone booked for time wasting. Carnage. Four minutes of stoppage time. 

Amidst all that Patrick Van Aanholt went down with cramp and was helped by opposite number Vurnon Anita. In the circumstances, that is very sporting. 

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Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger for 5 live Sport

"It wasn't about Aleksandar Mitrovic, it was about that man Georginio Wijnaldum. He has made no impact so far but he gets the ball on the right, it is a great dribble to get to the byline and it is an old fashioned cross to stand the ball up. Game on."

As my colleague Guy Mowbray mentions in commentary, that goal came from a foul throw by DeAndre Yedlin. Professionals should be fined for that sort of behaviour. 

Newcastle can sniff a winner. Jonjo Shelvey takes aim but his shot is poor. The home fans are, all of a sudden, transformed. Oh yeah and Lee Cattermole is on now. 

There's a bit of rammy as Papiss Cisse pokes a leg out to try and divert the ball forward following Moussa Sissoko's cross. Vito Mannone is not happy as he gets caught and seems to lash out at the Newcastle forward. Strange, but fairly harmless. 

In terms of head to head games, Rafael Benitez has seven wins to Sam Allardyce's three. Aleksandar Mitrovic claims he is being held by Lamine Kone in the penalty area, but referee Martin Atkinson is not interested. 

NUFC commentator Mick Lowes: "It's like everything is in slow motion. When Newcastle get up to the edge of the area, they don't seem to want to shoot or pass." 

Half-chance for Yann M'Vila as Jermain Defoe scoops the ball to him at the back post but the Sunderland midfielder lets it bounce and the chance is gone. He wins a corner, though, which is cleared. 

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Papiss Cisse almost on the end of Ayoze Perez's cross with his first touch, but it's just a bit high for the Senegalese forward. 

Final throw of the dice as Andros Townsend comes off for Papiss Cisse. He hasn't featured since December. 

Another change for Sunderland. Dame N'Doye replaces Wahbi Khazri. 

Our friends at Opta remind us that Sunderland have not kept a clean sheet in their last 17 games in all competitions. Jonjo Shelvey attempts to extend that stat, but his shot is fairly easy to save. 

Newcastle's Ayoze Perez has flitted in and out of this game. Now he finds the ball about 30 yards out, conjures some space and then fires well over. John O'Shea is on for Sunderland skipper Younes Kaboul. Calf problem apparently.