Newcastle 1 - 1 Sunderland

Ameobi hits late equaliser after two red cards and two penalties

Shola Ameobi scored a stoppage-time equaliser as Newcastle United salvaged a 1-1 draw at home with Sunderland in a typically tempestuous North East derby.

The homegrown striker pounced to earn the Magpies a point after Demba Ba's miss from the penalty spot appeared set to give the Black Cats revenge for defeat at the Stadium of Light back in August.

Nicklas Bendtner's first-half penalty had given the visitors the lead and referee Mike Dean's busy afternoon produced a raft of yellow cards before Stephane Sessegnon was sent off before the hour mark.

Mike Williamson was yellow carded for blatantly tugging Michael Turner's shirt in the area and Nicklas Bendtner, sporting a protective face mask, stepped up to convert the penalty.

The temperature dipped slightly for the remainder of the first half and Newcastle came close to a leveller just before the break when Demba Ba's header came back off the bar.

Sunderland attacker Sessegnon was sent off for flinging his arm into Tiote's face on 58 minutes, moments after Martin O'Neill's side had missed a golden chance to score a second goal.

Newcastle's late onslaught brought an equaliser in the 91st minute when Ameobi squeezed the ball home at the far post before Cattermole was shown the red card by Dean after the final whistle.