But in their first third round appearance since 1988, the National League South minnows made history as Sam Corne netted a penalty in first half stoppage-time before fans flooded the pitch in celebration at the final whistle.
Bournemouth came from two goals down at half-time to win 3-2 at second tier QPR.
Inspired by Joao Pedro’s double, Brighton won 4-2 at Championship outfit Stoke despite falling behind early on.
Sheffield United, bottom of the Premier League, cruised to a 4-0 victory at fourth tier Gillingham.
Newcastle had previously lost six of their previous seven meetings with Sunderland, but their calm performance neutralized the fervent Black Cats and secured their first derby victory since a 1-0 triumph in 2011.
Newcastle ended a 13-year wait to beat Sunderland in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, thanks to a double from Chelsea advanced to the last 32 with a 4-0 thrashing of second-tier Preston, while Aston Villa came from behind to win 1-0 at Middlesbrough.
Newcastle defeated Sunderland in the first Tyne and Wear derby since 2016, courtesy to Dan Ballard’s first-half own goal and Isak’s brace after the interval at the Stadium of Light.
Newcastle had previously lost six of their previous seven meetings with Sunderland, but their calm performance neutralized the fervent Black Cats and secured their first derby victory since a 1-0 triumph in 2011.
Newcastle coach Eddie Howe believed the rivalry would be a “season-changing” occasion to heal the scars of their Champions League exit and dismal Premier League record after four consecutive defeats in all competitions.
It remains to be seen if defeating second-tier opponents will be transformational, but for now, local pride was all that mattered to the 6,000 Newcastle fans who waved their black and white scarves in ecstasy at the final whistle.
“We handled the situation well, were brave with the ball, and remained calm.” “We didn’t let the crowd take control,” Howe explained.
“Today will have been really beneficial to us. It keeps us in a significant competition, which gives us hope.
While the northeast rivalry lacks the glitz of the Manchester and north London derbies, the animosity between clubs separated by only 14 miles is undeniable.
A peculiar event this week encapsulated the animosity when Sunderland were compelled to apologize to enraged fans when a stadium bar in the corporate hospitality area of the visitors’ support was redecorated with Newcastle colors.
To avoid the violent situations that have plagued recent matches, Newcastle fans were transported to the stadium on buses in a massive police procession before being issued their match tickets.
In the midst of the commotion in the fans, Newcastle held their composure and took the lead in the 35th minute when Ballard turned Joelinton’s cross into his own net.
Sunderland gave Newcastle their second goal less than 60 seconds after the break, as Almiron stole the sluggish Pierre Ekwah within his own half and set up Isak to score from 10 yards.
Ballard’s 90th minute foul on Anthony Gordon conceded a penalty that Isak converted to cap the exclamation point on Newcastle’s victory.
Chelsea’s scoring run
Chelsea defeated Preston at Stamford Bridge with three goals in 11 second-half minutes.
Given their poor run in the Premier League, Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino has urged his players to utilize the FA Cup as a springboard into Europe.
In response to such message, Armando Broja scored in the 58th minute to shatter Preston’s resistance.
Thiago Silva headed in the second from a corner, and Raheem Sterling added a third with a superb free-kick.
“We got off to such a poor start. At halftime, I urged the players that we needed to up our enthusiasm level to match Preston’s. “It was a completely different game in the second half,” Pochettino stated.
Aston Villa, who are just two points behind league leaders Liverpool, required an 88th-minute goal from Matty Cash to beat Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Non-league Maidstone United, the competition’s lowest-ranked team, defeated Stevenage 1-0 to advance to the fourth round for the first time.
The margin between George Elkobi’s Kent-based team and third-tier Stevenage is 69 places.
But in their first third round appearance since 1988, the National League South minnows made history as Sam Corne netted a penalty in first half stoppage-time before fans flooded the pitch in celebration at the final whistle.
Bournemouth came from two goals down at half-time to win 3-2 at second tier QPR.
Inspired by Joao Pedro’s double, Brighton won 4-2 at Championship outfit Stoke despite falling behind early on.
Sheffield United, bottom of the Premier League, cruised to a 4-0 victory at fourth tier Gillingham.
