NEWCASTLE, England (AP) β Sunderland beat its fierce rival Newcastle 3-0 on Sunday for its first Premier League victory of the season.
Newcastle was the better side in the first half at the Stadium of Light but Sunderland took the lead on the stroke of halftime after Fabricio Coloccini was adjudged to have blocked striker Steven Fletcher’s run in the penalty area.
The referee sent Coloccini off and Adam Johnson scored from the spot.
Billy Jones added the second from close range when Yann M’Vila volleyed a corner across the face of Newcastle’s goal.
Fletcher got the third four minutes from the end, volleying in a pass from Younes Kaboul.
The win lifts Sunderland off the bottom of the league standings β and above Newcastle β into 18th place on six points.
