Newcastle, March 23: Anthony Gordon did not hold back in his assessment after Newcastle United suffered a derby defeat to Sunderland, admitting the result was “not good enough” and insisting his side should not be losing to their north-east rivals.
Sunderland completed a league double over Newcastle with a 2-1 victory at St James’ Park on Sunday, having already edged the reverse fixture earlier in the season. The result extended Newcastle’s winless run against their fierce rivals to 11 league matches — the longest such streak in the history of the fixture.
Gordon, who had given Newcastle an early lead, cut a frustrated figure after the match. While acknowledging Sunderland’s second-half resurgence, the forward maintained that his side are superior on paper and should have capitalised on their dominance, particularly at home.
Newcastle started brightly and looked in control during the opening period, but the contest shifted dramatically after the break. Goals from Chemsdine Talbi and Brian Brobbey turned the game in Sunderland’s favour, exposing a recurring issue for Eddie Howe’s men — their inability to sustain performances across both halves.
The defeat capped a difficult period for Newcastle, who had already endured a heavy aggregate loss to FC Barcelona in the Champions League. Gordon admitted the team’s inconsistency, particularly slow starts to the second half, has been a persistent concern throughout the campaign.
Sunderland’s victory saw them climb to 11th in the table with 43 points, overtaking Newcastle, who slipped to 12th. (Agencies)
