The honeymoon's over for Kinnear

United not only lost for the first time on Wearside in 28 years they increased their winless run to eight matches, which is ominous.

If tub-thumper Joe Kinnear sparked fighting comebacks for 2-2 draws in his previous two games, then that scoreline was never likely to be repeated at the Stadium of Light.

United were second best in a two- horse race, and that hurts, especially in a derby.

The truth has never been far from the surface and it's simply that Newcastle require continuity, contentment and a clear vision within a ravaged squad. In other words, the club has to be sold quickly and a permanent manager installed with a kitty to spend on the dawning of a New Year.

Anything else and Newcastle's dreadful, dreadful start to the season will become a terminal illness.

Ironically, Harry Redknapp, the manager who turned down Mike Ashley, yesterday heaped extra pressure on the Magpies when, upon taking charge of Spurs who are the only club beneath United, he inspired Tottenham's first victory in nine Premier attempts.

Spurs are now only a single point behind Newcastle and Redknapp's breath can be felt on the neck of Kinnear.

United must hope that Jonas Gutierrez, available again, can add pace and punch to the side, Michael Owen can regain full fitness as soon as possible, and that Joey Barton will survive the bitterness his mere appearance in public generates.

In the week Arsene Wenger insisted he wouldn't tolerate his skipper William Gallas smoking, what of Barton?

If booze was his original problem, as he suggests, then boos now haunt his every waking hour.

Inevitably, he was relentlessly targeted by Sunderland fans, even when warming up, and drew a hail of missiles. Disgraceful, without question, but it will become a continuous and dangerous threat on every away ground in the country.

And the provocation that kissing his club badge generates, as Barton did before the enraged Sunderland faithful, is not the carefully thought out actions of the contrite man Pal Joey had so cleverly portrayed at his Press briefing.

At least at St James's Park, where his next two appearances are scheduled, Barton should be spared such physical abuse from the crowd with away fans parked up in the bird's nest just beneath the roof of the stand.

Shola Ameobi, who seemed bound for the oblivion of the Championship during the summer, has now scored in successive matches, this one with a towering header, but then finished wildly in the second half.

Sunderland carried more threat and were more fleet of foot, with Djibril Cisse a constant thorn for United defenders after scoring the opener and Kieron Richardson's free- kick worthy of winning any match.

When Nicky Butt's late tackle dropped El-Hadji Diouf bang on the edge of the box we were all fearful because only last week Richardson struck the post three times then netted only for the referee to spot a phantom foul and chalk it off.

This time he made sure there was no need for intervention with the net almost ripped to shreds by the raw power of his pile driver.

Next up is West Brom tomorrow night, unquestionably the easier of the two home encounters. Three points are an absolute must to send United into the next leg of their Brummie double-header with an opportunity to drag themselves out of the relegation dungeon because what lies ahead is a much, much sterner challenge.