Richardson´s stunner gives Sunderland derby delight

Sunderland ended their 28-year wait for a home win over bitter rivals Newcastle as Kieran Richardson's stunning free-kick sealed a 2-1 victory on Saturday.

After 12 matches without a Tyne-Wear derby success in front of their own fans, Richardson sparked joyous celebrations at the Stadium of Light when he struck with 15 minutes to play.

Roy Keane's side had taken the lead through Djibril Cisse's first half strike, but Shola Ameobi levelled before the break in a typically fiesty encounter.

Sunderland dominated much of the second half and could even have won by more as Cisse hit the post in the closing minutes.

It wasn't just local bragging rights that were at stake however. Newcastle remain second bottom of the table and deep in relegation trouble after Joe Kinnear's first defeat in three matches as interim manager.

Kinnear named Joey Barton among the substitutes after the troubled midfielder returned from his six-match ban, but his presence did nothing to lift Newcastle.

The hosts started brightly and Newcastle defender Steven Taylor was relieved to see Cisse fail to make the most of his 10th-minute error when he failed to cut out El Hadji Diouf's driven cross.

Pascal Chimbonda was proving a key outlet for the home side down the right and when he linked with Steed Malbranque ahead of him, the French winger played in Cisse to shoot wide in the 18th minute.

It was warning that Newcastle failed to heed. Cisse had promised to colour his hair red and white if he scored and the former Liverpool striker will have to get the dye out after putting Sunderland ahead in the 20th minute with a stabbed finish from Malbranque's misdirected shot.

But Kinnear's men were gradually starting to make an impact. Damien Duff and Obafemi Martins were denied by brave Sunderland blocks before Newcastle deservedly drew level on the half hour.

Ameobi was fouled wide on the left and Geremi whipped his free-kick to the far post for the unmarked Ameobi to head home his second goal of the week.

The 27-year-old, who had not found the back of the net in two years before Monday's match against Manchester City, but Kinnear's attempts to turn him into a modern version of former Wimbledon forward John Fashanu appear to be paying off.

Sunderland were in charge once again after half-time. They pinned Newcastle back and Cisse lifted an bicycle kick over the bar after juggling the ball to set himself up.

Martins led a rare Newcastle break as he found Ameobi into space on the edge of the area. Ameobi cut inside and seemed certain to score, but lifted his left-foot shot over the bar.

Inevitably Barton became embroiled in a spat with a handful of Sunderland supporters as he warmed up in front of them midway through the second half.

He was pelted with coins and responded by winding them up by kissing his Newcastle badge. The midfielder was eventually told to go back to the dug-out after a fan tried to get at him and had to be restrained by stewards.

The Black Cats were making another push and they went close again with 63 minutes gone when Cisse got a touch to Richardson's cross after Fabricio Coloccini could only help the ball on, but Given blocked well.

Sunderland's winner arrived in the 75th minute after Nicky Butt's cynical trip on Diouf just outside the area. Richardson stepped up to lash the free-kick past Shay Given and send the Stadium of Light wild.

Kinnear sent on Barton in the closing minutes to a hostile reception from the home fans but Newcastle had run out of time to salvage a point.