Aleksandar Mitrovic's sixth Premier League goal of the season ended a run of six straight defeats for Newcastle United against bitter rivals Sunderland at St James' Park this afternoon.

It seemed that the travelling Black Cats were going to extend their positive form in this fixture thanks to Jermain Defoe's first-half volley, but Mitrovic popped up seven minutes from time to ensure that the spoils were shared and that both sides remain in the bottom three.

Aleksandar Mitrovic strips to celebrate his equaliser during the Premier League game between Newcastle United and Sunderland on March 20, 2016 © Getty Images

It was Sunderland, and in particular the lively Defoe, that carved out the best openings during what was a competitive first half on Tyneside.

There was just three minutes on the clock when the 33-year-old spun and fired over, before in the 19th minute he drove Jack Rodwell's low cross into the side-netting.

Then, just two minutes later the former England international was at full stretch to meet Wahbi Khazri's drilled cross at the back post, only to be inches away from making a firm contact.

Jermain Defoe celebrates scoring during the Premier League game between Newcastle United and Sunderland on March 20, 2016 © Getty Images

However, there were no such problems for Defoe just 60 seconds before the interval. Rob Elliot in the Newcastle goal could not hold Fabio Borini's stinging effort from distance and when the ball dropped for the Sunderland centre-forward eight yards from goal, he bounced an instant volley into the far corner of the net.

The first chance after the break went the way of the home side after Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone had failed to reach Andros Townsend's corner. The ball was turned goalwards by Ayoze Perez and he would have been celebrating an equalising goal had Yann M'Vila not reacted quickly to hook off the line.

Despite that positive start by Newcastle, the away side remained a threat and they went close to doubling their advantage in the 58th minute when the ball broke for Patrick van Aanholt inside the box. His powerful shot was goalbound, but Elliot stuck out a hand to turn the ball over the crossbar.

Patrick van Aanholt and Andros Townsend in action during the Premier League game between Newcastle United and Sunderland on March 20, 2016 © Getty Images

Just when it appeared that Sam Allardyce's men had done enough to shut out their neighbours, Mitrovic intervened to score the first goal of the Rafael Benitez era.

Georginio Wijnaldum was the architect with a cross that drifted towards the back post, where Mitrovic got up Sunderland full-back DeAndre Yedlin to power a downward header inside the far post, much to the delight of the majority of those inside the stadium.

It is a result that means Newcastle and Sunderland stay 19th and 18th respectively, both with a game in hand on 17th-placed Norwich City.