Reserves loose in derby

By Matthew Jones
September 17 2002

Sunderland have drawn first blood in this week's Tyne-Wear derby double-header with a 1-0 reserves win over Newcastle United. The Black Cats' reserve side saw off their Newcastle counterparts in a 1-0 win at The Stadium of Light on Monday evening. Newcastle face Sunderland later this week...

Sunderland have drawn first blood in this week's Tyne-Wear derby double-header with a 1-0 reserves win over United.

The Black Cats' reserve side saw off their Newcastle counterparts in a 1-0 win at The Stadium of Light on Monday evening.

French striker David Bellion scored the only goal of the game after seven minutes against an under-strength United line-up.

With regular reserves such as Shola Ameobi, Lomana LuaLua and Michael Chopra all in the first-team squad in the Ukraine preparing for Wednesday's Champions League tie at Dynamo Kiev, Magpies coach Tommy Craig was forced to field Under-19 strikers Richard Offiong and Calvin Zola Makongo up front.

Sunderland included Kevin Kilbane, Kevin Kyle, Paul Thirlwell, Stanislav Varga, Darren Williams and George McCartney in their side, while winger Julio Arca had an impressive match ahead of his expected return to the first-team squad for the senior derby at Newcastle on Saturday.