Newcastle United Under-23s claimed the Tyne-Wear derby bragging rights but had to earn them against battling 10-man Sunderland.
A Dylan Stephenson double was enough to earn three Premier League 2 points on a chilly night in Longbenton.
The Wearsiders made life tough for themselves when Patrick Almond was sent off for a strong challenge on 16 minutes.
Almond’s terrible challenge on former Chelsea man Charlie Wiggett was worthy of an early bath with the referee not taking any pity on the Sunderland youngster.
United then calmed any Tyne-Wear derby nerves midway through the first half thanks to hot shot Dylan Stephenson.
Having climbed his way through the ranks from the youth team last season he turned in the box and rifled home on 22 minutes to hand United the lead with a right-footed finish.
The strike was Stephenson’s 11th of the campaign for the second string.
Sunderland were unable to get a hold of the game and it was Stephenson again who tested Jacob Carney after the half-hour mark.
The visitors absorbed the pressure as the game edged towards the break but Newcastle led at the interval.
Newcastle got straight on the front-foot after the break when Niall Brookwell dinked the ball towards Stephenson but his effort crashed against the side netting.
Sunderland tried to dig deep and get back into the game with Cieran Dunne breaking free down the left-hand side but his low shot was saved by Dan Langley just before the hour mark.
Moments later Stephen Wearne tried his luck from distance but his effort was gathered by Langley.
Newcastle introduced striker Cameron Ferguson, son of former Toon striker Duncan, with 25 minutes to go as he replaced Adam Wilson.
Newcastle made a second change when they introduced Rosaire Longelo for Nathan Carlyon with 12 minutes to go.
However, Sunderland were presented with a great chance when Dunne went through in the box but blazed over to hand United a let off.
Sub Ferguson won a knockdown in the closing stages to allow Lucas de Bolle to force Carney into a save low down.
But the former Man United youngster could only parry into the path of Stephenson who lashed home the rebound.
Having survived a spell of Sunderland pressure that was always going to be enough to deflate the Wearsiders after going down to 10 men.
United: Langley, Carlyon (Longelo 78), Bondswell, Young, Wiggett, Cross, Wilson (Ferguson 65), Brookwell, Stephenson, White, De Bolle
Sunderland: Carney, Kachosa, Jessup, Wilding, Almond, Johnson, Scott, Sohna, Taylor, Wearne, Dunne
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