A Stephane Sessegnon strike has given Sunderland a 1-0 lead over Newcastle United at half time in the Tyne-Wear derby.
The home side had the majority of the possession in the opening minutes of the game, with Steven Taylor heading an early chance wide, before Simon Mignolet had to rush out to take the ball to prevent a Papiss Cisse strike.
Sunderland fought their way into the tie, as Phil Bardsley delivered a dangerous cross, before Danny Graham had a penalty claim turned down by referee Howard Webb.
The visitors took control of the play and broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark, as Sessegnon fired the ball in from 20 yards out, keeping the strike low to beat Tim Krul.
The Black Cats' lead was almost short-lived as Cisse broke through the Sunderland defence just one minute after the goal, but Mignolet was able to tip the ball wide to prevent the equaliser.
The Magpies looked threatening in the final 15 minutes of the opening period, as Mignolet was forced to stop yet another Cisse strike, but the visitors could have doubled their lead just before the half-time interval when Carlos Cuellar saw his header palmed away by Krul.
Sian Cowper
