Chris Hughton saw his position as Newcastle United's manager strengthened immeasurably today after Sunderland were thrashed 5-1 at St James' Park.
Despite Newcastle's rise into the top half of the Premier League, speculation had been rife that Hughton's job was in jeopardy. Newcastle's board will now be under pressure to bring forward negotiations to extend his contract from the end of the year.
Aware that his current deal runs out in May and that Hughton is battling to make the choice of a new assistant manager an internal rather than an external appointment, Newcastle's players immediately dedicated the victory to their manager.
Kevin Nolan, the captain who scored a hat-trick, said: "I'm delighted for the fans and delighted for Chris after what he was put through last week."
When Hughton entered the media room for his post‑match press conference he could hear his name being chanted by exultant fans outside. As those supporters combined such choruses with releasing fireworks, Newcastle's manager said: "It's a nice feeling but it's not about me, it's about the players.
"The supporters loved what they saw today though, they saw a committed team that took the game by the scruff of the neck. We had a difficult first 20 minutes but I'm very proud of my players today who made a very, very important game comfortable at times. Kevin Nolan was immense, breaking forward from midfield, and for him to get three goals was outstanding."
Asked if he expected Mike Ashley, the Newcastle owner, to invite him to the negotiating table Hughton proved characteristically circumspect. "I'm very proud to be manager of this football club but anything to do with my contract is a decision for the club," he said.
On the vexed issue of the identity of the assistant who will replace Colin Calderwood, who is now in charge of Hibernian, Hughton said: "At the moment it's my decision who comes in as my No2. I want to bring someone in as soon as possible."
The Sunderland manager, Steve Bruce, seemed in a hurry to get away from St James' Park after his side sustained their heaviest defeat on Tyneside since 1956, when they lost 6–2 in the old First Division. Bruce said that he had experienced what he described as his worst moment in football.
Asked if it represented the most painful reverse of his time in management, Bruce replied. "Probably in my whole career."
Having been mocked throughout the match by Newcastle fans, who serenaded him with a rather rude version of Sunderland's anthem, "Daydream Believer", the Geordie‑born Bruce was despondent.
"It's still trying to sink in, what we have just witnessed," the Sunderland manager said. "Everything that could go wrong went wrong. Penalties, red cards, poor defending. It's been a disastrous afternoon. We have to hold our hands up and say we were well beaten. To come here and play like that, it's not acceptable."
Next, the boyhood Newcastle fan said sorry to his Wearside public. "All I can do is apologise to our supporters. To get beat as badly as that and here of all places..." Bruce's voice trailed off, before he added: "It's difficult to take and it's been a very, very difficult day but I accept full responsibility. We said all week we must handle the occasion but we certainly didn't. It's difficult for our supporters to take a hammering like that. It's very painful. We've played a big derby game and we've only had three or four players on their game against seven, eight or nine from Newcastle really on it."
It did not help that Titus Bramble, the former Newcastle centre‑half in whom Bruce has invested so much faith, was shown a red card for an unnecessary professional foul on Andy Carroll in the second half.
"Titus was rash," said Bruce. "Now I need time to repair the damage. No one could see it coming but we were well and truly beaten and now we've got to take our medicine."