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Fletcher knew failure to win was not an option

Fletcher knew failure to win was not an option

Scotland attacker Steven Fletcher knew Sunderland had no choice but to beat Newcastle for more than one reason.

Sunday’s 2-1 win against the Magpies at the Stadium of Light ended the club’s wait for a Premier League success after six successive defeats and lifted the Black Cats from the foot of the table.

But just as important was local pride and the lift victory can give to players and supporters.

Fletcher said: “We’re not daft, we know what this game means to the supporters and everyone around the place. We knew we needed to win this one.

“We are told every day – some tell us that we just need to win this one and that’s it.

“They have not had a lot to cheer about, but I think it showed from our celebrations in the first five minutes how much we wanted to win the game.

“We managed to go on and do that. They have stuck by us and hopefully we have repaid them.”

New manager Gus Poyet, taking charge of his first home game, was thrilled with the way his players tackled their derby mission on an afternoon when defeat was simply unthinkable. They started the game strongly and needed just five minutes to force their way ahead when Fletcher climbed above makeshift central defender Paul Dummett and headed home.

As the early storm abated, Newcastle worked their way into the contest and it was no surprise when full-back Mathieu Debuchy turned up on the end of Hatem Ben Arfa’s driven 57th-minute cross to equalise.

The writing appeared to be on the wall for Sunderland as they retreated under a growing bombardment with Yohan Cabaye and substitute Shola Ameobi both going close.

However, it was then that Poyet made his move, removing Cattermole and Johnson and replacing them with Ki Sung-yueng and Fabio Borini, and it was the Italian who was the match-winner with just five minutes remaining.