Premier League: Poyet’s Johnson whim results in Pardew wearing unenviable tag
NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 SUNDERLAND 1
SUNDERLAND boss Gus Poyet admitted he contemplated substituting Adam Johnson shortly before the former England winger proved the last-gasp match-winner in yesterday’s Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Johnson rounded off a swift Black Cats’ counter-attack in the 90th minute as Sunderland extended their unbeaten run against Newcastle to six matches.
While Poyet can bask in the glory of his decision to replace Connor Wickham and not Johnson with Will Buckley, counterpart Alan Pardew now has the tag of the only Newcastle manager in history to lose four successive Tyne-Wear derbies.
“I was taking Adam Johnson off and for some reason, I didn’t,” said Poyet. “Don’t ask me why because I don’t know.”