Byline: Lee Ryder
JUST when life was on the brink of almost unbearable for Newcastle United fans, Ryan Taylor delivered the magic moment Geordie fans were praying for at the Stadium of Light.CAPTION(S):Sure, United's stars - roared on by home-grown players such as Steven Taylor and Shola Ameobi - fully understood the occasion and the consequences of defeat.Even the most partisan Black Cat fan would have to admit, though, their side wase lucky not be a man down and a goal down after winger Seb Larsson's super save round the post from Joey Barton's header.Cattermole also looked like a man out of control towards the end, with Sunderland devoid of any ideas in a footballing sense.Simply getting by will not be enough in the bigger tests which lie ahead.Referee Howard Webb missed the incident in a blunder which could have had severe implications on the season ahead for Newcastle.The Premier League is a ferocious world, but at the Stadium of Light United took on a team who have splashed out this summer - and came away smelling of roses.He got everything from his players and, while Ryan Taylor admits he is not a left-back, he looked like he was prepared to sweat blood for the cause, with Gutierrez providing an ample shield in front of him.True enough, Sunderland started well against the Magpies but could not turn their possession and chances into goals.Defeat would have potentially derailed United in the coming months, with some sections of Toon fans not convinced their team is heading the right direction.True enough, there werelapses and loss of possession from the usually reliable Cheick Tiote and he was borderline when he upended Kieran Richardson.In truth, it was desperate from Brucie's boys in the end - summed up when Bardsley's potential leg-breaker on Coloccini resulted in a deserved red card in one of Webb's few correct decisions.As "I am Coming Home Newcastle" blasted out of the visiting dressing room after the derby win, it must have been hard for Sunderland officials to stomach.Thankfully for Toon fans, Londoner Pardew managed it quite well with his post-game thoughts on understanding the significance of the fixture reflected during 90 minutes of pulsating action.Unlike the Arsenal game, Newcastle threatened more with Barton denied by Larsson's handball and seeing another effort chalked off for offside.A striker is also still yearned for in these parts too, preferably one with a bit of proven class.GOALDEN MOMENT Steven Taylor appears to glance Ryan Taylor's free-kick into the net to score the winning goal for Newcastle LIFE OF RYAN Ryan Taylor celebrates scoring his free-kickYes, defeat on Wearside would have been unthinkable for the Magpies.Chained with the frustrating events of the transfer window this summer, it would have made life tough for United and Alan Pardew - instead, the manager and his team can use it to kickstart the season ahead and build on it.Pardew, John Carver and Steve Stone have been testament to the coaching world this summer for getting every last drop of energy, fight and commitment out of United's players.The strike not only illuminated the swarm of black and whites behind the goal on Wearside and sickened the red and white hordes, it put Newcastle on the right tracks again.With limited funds at his disposal, Pardew cannot seemingly buy his way out of trouble because the people above him do not want to pay over the odds in the transfer window due to the current financial bounds they have imposed upon themselves.The control and poise Pardew has spoken about this summer was there for large parts of the match.Seeing off Sunderland felt as great as ever as Geordies worldwide partied hard into the wee small hours.In all honesty, when Taylor unleashed his masterstroke in front of the Toon hardcore, even he could not have realised exactly what he had done as smiles as long as the Tyne Bridge spread around the away section at the Stadium of Light.A bigger scoreline would have been even sweeter for Geordie fans, but this will do very nicely indeed.While substitute Dan Gosling could easily have been wheeling away celebrating his first Toon goal after squandering a decent chance near the end.Their frustration was understandable, given the fact Bruce has shelled out this summer but cannot seem to find the missing ingredients in a derby contest.Fears over the squad's lack of depth and cover still remain - not least the fact Newcastle still do not have a new left-back despite having a summer to conduct transfer business.All in all, three points could not have been more welcome for United and, with two clean sheets from two, Pardew has something to build on.Another uttered: "Watching us against United is like watching Audley Harrison in a boxing ring."On the field on Saturday, though, concerns about impact in the final third were eased slightly.When Sunderland's 1973 FA Cupwinning goalie Jim Montgomery was paraded on the pitch at the break, he may well have been proud of such a super stop!Yet this was the rough and tumble of a derby, not that should have excused Bardsley later.From the moment the Magpies snatched the lead just after the hourmark they looked like winning it, whereas Sunderland's frantic efforts to be rescued from derby humiliation came to no avail.Webb and his fellow officials melted amid the intense derby atmosphere.The big difference between the two teams, though, was the fact Newcastle focused on playing the game and not the occasion.Luckily, he was also off the pace when Yohan Cabaye's full-blooded tackle on Phil Bardsley left the Mancunian floored near the touchline.One home fan summed this up perfectly when he bellowed across the press box: "We just haven't got a clue when it comes to derbies".Yet a succession of Lee Cattermole late tackles went unpunished and the ex-Boro man could easily have been down the tunnel too.
GOALDEN MOMENT Steven Taylor appears to glance Ryan Taylor's free-kick into the net to score the winning goal for Newcastle LIFE OF RYAN Ryan Taylor celebrates scoring his free-kick
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