NEWCASTLE: Sunderland emphatically beat fierce rival Newcastle 3-0 on Sunday for its first Premier League victory of the season.

An Adam Johnson penalty, followed by goals from Billy Jones and Steven Fletcher, lifted Sunderland off the bottom of the league standings — and above Newcastle — into 18th place on six points.

It was also Sunderland's sixth straight league win against Newcastle, which was the better side in the first half before being reduced to 10 men ahead of the opening goal in controversial circumstances.

Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini appeared to be too strong for Fletcher to get past him as they chased a ball in the penalty area, but the defender was adjudged to have unfairly impeded Fletcher's progress by referee Robert Madley.

He sent Coloccini off, much to the fury of the defender and Newcastle manager Steve McClaren, before Johnson fired the penalty low into the bottom right corner.

Until then Newcastle was more assured in possession and attacked Sunderland, which lost Ola Toivonen and John O'Shea to injury before the interval at the Stadium of Light.

Jones added the second from close range when midfielder Yann M'Vila volleyed a corner across the face of Newcastle's goal.

Fletcher got the third four minutes from the end, volleying in a pass from Younes Kaboul.

"We were a little fortunate with the first goal but you get these things in the game of football and you have to take full advantage," Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce said.

"Today, the most important thing for us was to get into the lead and we went on and win the game comfortably."

Newcastle manager McClaren was dismayed by the penalty decision before halftime.

"I think Colo (Coloccini) leaned into him, he (Fletcher) was never going to get the ball and that decision has cost the game," McClaren said. "I can't fault our players, we looked a very good team. We are devastated for the fans, for the result and feel very, very harshly done to."