Neither Newcastle United or Sunderland have been able to make the breakthrough in a goalless first half of the Tyne-Wear derby.

A first half full of tough tackles excited the crowd at St James' Park, with Sebastian Coates and Fabricio Coloccini both picking up yellow cards in a frantic first 10 minutes, before referee Anthony Taylor went on to book three more players.

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Moussa Sissoko created Newcastle's first chance for himself when he exchanged passes with Sammy Ameobi to burst into the box, before seeing Costel Pantilimon make a comfortable low save.

Sunderland improved as the game progressed, and they should have taken the lead when a free kick to the back post caught Newcastle goalkeeper Jak Alnwick out of position, but Connor Wickham could only head wide.

The Black Cats came even closer to breaking the deadlock when Jordi Gomez lobbed the ball to Steven Fletcher, who rattled the crossbar with a volley on the turn.

Wickham, once again playing from the left for the visitors, cut inside to threaten the hosts with a powerful effort which Alnwick managed to tip just past his near post.

Ayoze Perez was offered very little service in the first half, but the Spanish forward almost made a vital contribution before the break when he curled inches wide from the edge of the box.

There was still time for Sunderland to create one more opportunity as Alnwick made a comfortable save to collect Wickham's header from a Santiago Vergini cross.