Adam Johnson bags a dramatic late winner for Sunderland against Newcastle

Adam Johnson has become a major thorn in Newcastle's side

Adam Johnson scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner as Sunderland stunned arch rivals Newcastle at St James' Park as Alex Johnson reports.

It could have all been so different for Gus Poyet's side, as moments earlier Newcastle's Moussa Sissoko had fired in a goalbound effort that was well tipped over the bar by Costel Pantilimon.

Sunderland cleared the corner and broke forward in numbers, the ball eventually falling to substitute Will Buckley, who teed up Johnson to volley home from six yards. It means Sunderland have beaten their North East rivals four times in a row for the first time in their history.

That dramatic finale was a rare bit of quality in a game that was high on passion but lacked composure in either penalty area.

Newcastle were given a pre-match boost with the news that goalkeeper Jak Alnwick had recovered from a shoulder injury to make his first start for the Magpies. Full-back Daryl Janmaat also returned to the starting line-up after serving a suspension.

Sunderland were forced into making a last-minute change to their line-up when Anthony Reveillere pulled up in the warm-up and was replaced by Sebastian Coates. They did though have striker Steven Fletcher back after injury.

Sunderland's Lee Cattermole set the tone for a scrappy first half with a foul within 15 seconds, while referee Anthony Taylor booked five players during the opening 45 minutes.

Newcastle made the better start and had the first chance of the game, Sissoko firing straight at Pantilimon after a neat one-two with Sammy Ameobi.

Sunderland slowly began to settle though and had the better chances in the opening period.

On 23 minutes Connor Wickham should have done better at the far post when Newcastle goalkeeper Alnwick mis-judged Sebastian Larsson's free-kick, the Sunderland striker heading wide from close range.

Three minutes later Larsson played a glorious ball over the top to Fletcher whose first-time volley clipped the top of the crossbar.

Santiago Vergini then put in a wonderful ball from the right that found the unmarked Wickham, Alnwick doing well to stretch and hold on to the looping header.

At the start of the second half the experienced Steven Taylor did superbly well to head Wickham's teasing cross away from goal at the far post, colliding with the upright in the process.

The defender briefly left the field to receive stitches and Sunderland nearly took advantage of the extra man. However, Jordi Gomez was guilty of a horrendous miss when he sliced wide when in space eight yards out.

Taylor soon returned to a rapturous reception and Newcastle responded by working their way back into the game.

Substitute Adam Armstrong ran on to Ameobi's pass but shot straight at the goalkeeper from a tight angle, with a pass to unmarked team-mate Sissoko perhaps the better option.

The lively Ayoze Perez then had two opportunities, the first a long-range effort tipped over by Pantilimon before shooting straight at the Sunderland goalkeeper after getting away from Wes Brown in the penalty area.

Back at the other end Johnson should have done better when turning away from Fabricio Coloccini in the box but the former Middlesbrough man could not get enough curl on the ball and it went wide.

Johnson made no mistake with his next chance, sending the visiting supporters into raptures. It could have got even better for the away side when Larsson found himself clean through on goal and rounded Alnwick deep into stoppage time, only to fire the ball wide from a tight angle.

The win moves Sunderland up to 14th place, four points clear of the relegation zone and to within four points of Newcastle in ninth spot.