Newcastle United Under-21s beat Sunderland Under-21s in a thrilling comeback win at St James’ Park last night.

The Young Magpies came from behind twice to win the Premier League 2 tie 3-2 in front of just over 5,000 fans. First team boss Matthias Jaissle, Sporting Director Ross Wilson, and club director Jacobo Solis were also in attendance.

The win takes Newcastle up to 27^th in the 31-team table, while Sunderland drop to seventh.

Salia Seals Win for Young Magpies

It was an open game with both sides creating plenty of chances, but Robbie Stockdale’s side went behind in the 37^th minute to a Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi header.

That goal was the difference between the two sides at half-time, but Newcastle equalised in the 58^th minute through Kyran Thompson, who was part of the England-Under 18s team that finished runners-up in the Friendship Cup a few weeks ago.

Thompson was allowed the space to run at the Black Cats goal, before firing a shot from distance that hit the underside of the bar before dropping in.

Sunderland regained the lead through Felix Scott in the 63^rd minute. The forward raced into the box before unleashing a powerful shot past Roman Dowell.

The lead didn’t last long. Newcastle equalised again in the 70^th minute, this time through Park Seung-Soo. It was a lovely goal – he cut inside from the left and curled a beautiful shot into the top corner, giving Black Cats goalkeeper Isaac Allan no chance.

Both teams traded blows, but it was Newcastle who took the lead in the 85^th minute. Vakhtang Salia headed in substitute Kyle Fitzgerald’s cross, to the delight of the fans – and the watching Jaissle.

Those blows almost became real in the final minutes of the game. Nine yellow cards were shown to players from both sides as the contest became increasingly bad-tempered.

But Newcastle held on for the win, which lifted them off the foot of the table.

Stockdale: “A Brilliant Night for Us”

Stockdale praised his players after the game, highlighting their “determination” and “quality”.

“It was a really good night, really enjoyable. Felt like a proper game. Really pleased for the players.

“It means a lot to the players and staff, obviously. To do it in the way that they did it, coming from behind, having real determination, real quality, in front of 5,000 people at St James’, it’s a brilliant night for us.”

Stockdale was aware that Jaissle, Wilson, and Solis were watching, and highlighted the relationship between the Under-21s and the first team, which he said had “gone up another level”.

Under-21 players have been training regularly with the first team since Jaissle arrived, and some of them have made matchday squads, particularly in preseason.

 Stockdale said: “The relationship with the first team and us was fantastic, but now it’s gone up another level, truth be told.

“The fact that the first team staff are here, they know all our players, we have discussions every day about them. I think they’ll be really satisfied with what we’re doing with them.”

The Young Magpies are in action on Friday, when they play Peterborough United Under-21s in the Premier League Cup at Whitley Park.

Teams

Newcastle United Under-21s: Dowell, Johnson, Charlton, Watts, Pivas, Bailey, Emerson (Park Seung-soo, 67), M Miley (Koussou, 78), Thompson (Fitzgerald, 67), Ferreira (Seldon, 69), Cá (Salia, 51)

Unused subs: Craggs, Walpole

Sunderland Under-21s: Allan, Lienard, Jenson Jones (Barker, 88), Neild, Kindon, Whittaker, Scott (Lightfoot, 83), Munyakazi, Proctor (Jayden Jones, 59), Samuel-Ogunsuyi, Angulo (Dinsdale, 45)

Unused subs: Metcalf, Hunt, Wilson

Referee: Aaron Bannister