The Tyne-Wear derby is almost always a highly charged, exciting affair, and the St James' Park encounter in the 2005 / 06 season was even more thrilling than most.

Graeme Souness' Newcastle United side had to take the lead three times before finally securing the points, as Sunderland, managed by Mick McCarthy, produced a battling display to twice bring the scores level.

Midfielder Emre settled the encounter just after an hour, with a spectacular strike, his first since joining the Magpies three months earlier.

Prior to the Turk's decider, eight minutes of goal-scoring mayhem had gripped the match midway through the first half.

Black Cats goalkeeper Kelvin Davis made a series of early saves as the home side got off to the better start, thanks in part to some good passing play from returning Newcastle midfielder Nolberto Solano, making his first appearance since he re-signed for the side with a £1.5million move from Aston Villa.

The match began at a frantic pace, unsurprisingly bearing in mind the intense rivalry between the clubs. The high-speed nature of the opening period did not, however, give rise to a particularly exciting brand of football.

That was until Shola Ameobi opened the scoring, and in doing so initiated a period of electrifying play where each team showed their passion and eagerness to seal a win over their neighbours.

Newcastle took the lead following an Emre corner. Ameobi headed home after his aerial presence caused problems for the Black Cats defence and he lost his marker in the penalty area to score his first of the season.

Liam Lawrence equalised just a minute later, with an 18-yard shot. The strike had an air of real quality about it as the ball flew beyond the outstretched Shay Given and in to the bottom right corner.

Newcastle, however, were back in front just two minutes after the restart, following an own goal from former Magpie Stephen Caldwell. Ameobi was again involved after Charles N'Zogbia returned a Stephen Carr cross back into the box.

Ameobi, with his height proving an advantage once again, jumped high, to put his marker Caldwell under pressure. It was Caldwell however who had the last touch, as he headed into the back of his own net.

A superb strike from Stephen Elliot seconds later ended a manic period as the half drew to a close. His 25-yard strike sailed in to the top right hand corner of the net like a rocket, to level the scores for the second time in four minutes.

The pulsating style of play continued after the interval, with the visitors coming closest to taking the lead early on. Goal-scorer Elliot was twice denied, first by the in-form Given, then by the bar.

But it was Emre, returning to the starting line-up for the first time in two months after recovering from a hamstring problem, who finally settled matters. A free-kick was awarded to the home side after Caldwell was adjudged to have fouled Ameobi.

The former Inter Milan midfielder stepped up to take the kick, and his precision shot was too good for Davis, to delight the Turk's under-pressure manager Graeme Souness.

Minutes later, another dead-ball kick from Emre almost made it 4-2, after his ball found Steven Taylor. Taylor headed down and forced a point-blank save from Davis.

Despite Newcastle's one-goal advantage, the match remained open, and Sunderland had several chances to make it a hat-trick of equalisers.

Lawrence was unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty after he was challenged by N'Zogbia, and Elliott made another attempt on goal, only to see the ball come off the crossbar.

Taylor was also forced to clear a shot off the goal-line late on as Black Cats substitute Andy Gray could have snuck an equaliser.

The final whistle brought an enthralling derby match to an end, sealing Newcastle's fourth consecutive win over the neighbours.

After the match, Souness credited his side's returning players for their memorable victory:

"We have huffed and puffed recently but we have not had our special players on the pitch. We have not been scoring. But today we had players on the pitch who can make things happen."

Meanwhile, Mick McCarthy praised his Sunderland side despite their defeat:
"My lads were fantastic - but we were beaten and I am absolutely sick about it. I think we did enough in the game to have got something out of it.

"I think we could have done better than to concede from corner kicks but my players are giving me, the club and the supporters value for money."

Later that season Newcastle United, under the new management of Glenn Roeder, completed the double over Sunderland, with a 4-1 win at the Stadium of Light.

United finished the season in seventh place, qualifying for the third round of the Intertoto Cup, while Sunderland finished bottom of the league with 15 points, the lowest points total ever, breaking their previous record of 19.

Newcastle United: Given, Carr, Boumsong, Taylor, Ramage, Solano (Clark 80), Parker, Emre (Faye 81), N'Zogbia, Shearer, Ameobi (Chopra 79).
Subs Not Used: Caig, Brittain.

Goals:Ameobi 34, Caldwell 37 og, Emre 63.

Sunderland: Davis, Nosworthy, Breen (Stubbs 42), Caldwell, Hoyte, Lawrence, Miller, Whitehead, Welsh (Arca 45), Elliott, Gray (Le Tallec 79).
Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Robinson.

Goals:Lawrence 35, Elliott 41.