The Dominant Derby Performance That Might Have Been

The talk will all center on Cheick Tiote and Martin Atkinson.

And that's understandable, given the way Tiote's first-half red card - dished out by Atkinson - altered Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby.

We can go back and forth about the legitimacy of the call. All three of us felt it was only worthy of a yellow card - there's no denying Tiote was late and high, but we didn't feel as though his lunge was violent - but plenty of other rational observers, including Tiote's replacement, James Perch, supported Atkinson's decision. We've all seen the play multiple times; whatever I write isn't likely to change your opinion.

My frustration isn't so much tied to the end result. A 1-all draw on the road, all things considered, wasn't a disaster from a Newcastle perspective. But Tiote's sending off denied Newcastle an opportunity to finally hit a rhythm and get the sort of result that could ignite its season.

Before Tiote departed in the 25th minute, United displayed the sort of attacking verve that it's all too often lacked during a sleepy start to the season. Finally, a central midfielder made a timely run into the box, resulting in Yohan Cabaye's first goal of the season. Finally, Pardew's preferred 4-4-2 formation looked capable of creating an appropriate number of scoring chances and holding its own in the center of the midfield. Finally, the two central strikers looked compatible.

Too bad we only got to see that for 25 minutes. Instead, the game's final 65 minutes went about how you'd expect - Sunderland controlled possession (65.6 percent vs. 34.4) and outpassed its visitors (379-for-451, 84 percent vs. 170-for-241, 71 percent). To Newcastle's credit - or Sunderland's discredit - the hosts failed to create much of anything in the way of legitimate scoring chances. Even the tying goal was simply a free kick pumped into the box that resulted in John O'Shea's header deflecting off Demba Ba and in.

We saw Pardew's troops, led by captain Fabricio Coloccini, defend as well as they have at any point during his tenure. But we're still waiting to see the sort of complete performance that's yet to materialize in Premier League play this season.

Thanks to Tiote's red card - right or wrong - we'll have to wait another week.

Comments

[MnToonArmy9]

Tiote shouldn't have gotten a straight red card, but I'm ok with what happened. Confused? Let me explain.

I watched that replay a dozen times. Both players are sticking their feet into play the ball...almost simultaneously. Someone was going to get hammered and it ended up being the other guy. If you are a ref, how can you say that such a challenge (as rough as it might have been) can be so reckless and dangerous so as to require a straight red card? What is Tiote supposed to do--realize that the other guy is acting simultaneously and in that split fraction of a second somehow withdraw his leg? Yellow card, I'd understand, but straight red? I wonder of Tiote's reputation got him in a bit of trouble, there.

On the other hand, a player has to be responsible for where his studs go...kind of like hunting---you have to always be responsible for your firearm---so in that sense, as simultaneous as it was, Tiote (I love this guy by the way) has got to be responsible for his own studs and they did contact the calf/ankle of the opposing player which is often a straight red card-type of offense.

If I were a ref, I wouldn't have called it a straight red card, but since Tiote has to be responsible for his studs, I can't say I completely disagree with the decision.

Oh, and by the way, minus that red card, we win that match 3-0 or 4-1. We looked really good and that was without Steven Taylor at full steam on the back line.

[Surreytoon]

Driving home, heard Bob on BBC Radio 5, a credit to US NUFC fans! I'll add this site to my bookmarks and check in regularly. Keep up the good work!

[Bob]

That's great, Surreytoon, welcome. Thanks and glad to have you.

[Rob]

The Schwochster is famous!

[Jaeger]

after thinking about it, i would like to throw in the argument that tiote's red card wasn't as influential as you make it seem. they had 60 or so minutes of being a man up and not being able to score and it wasn't as though we were just falling back and defending that whole time either. we had other opportunities to extend the lead but just couldn't convert. the goal came on a fluke play and it would have happened the same way if there was an extra man standing 4 yds away ball watching. yes being a man down usually means that our defense is being opened wide and there are 20 shots on goal for krul to try to save but the defense was holding strong and the only reason they got a point was a deflection that had nothing to do with the number of people on the pitch.