Sunderland, in second place , just one point behind, had a game in hand.
The following Saturday Sunderland traveled the 20 km to play their local rivals Newcastle United at St James' Park. A win would see them retain the League title (they had won 4 previous titles in total; Aston Villa held the record with 5).
Newcastle went ahead in the 48th minute- a short range effort from Robert Smyth McColl.
In the latter stages of the game, pressing for the equalizer, Sunderland changed formation to 1-4-5 (Rhodes 'joining the halves'). Under the rules of the day this led to a lot of off sides- much to the anger of the Newcastle fans.
Newcastle United
|
Sunderland
| |
Charlie Watts
|
GK
|
Ned Doig
|
Andy Aitken
|
RB
|
Jimmy Watson
|
William Agnew
|
LB
|
Ephraim 'Dusty' Rhodes
|
Peter McWilliam
|
RH
|
Billy Farquhar
|
Colin Veitch
|
CH
|
Alex Barrie
|
Jack Carr
|
LH
|
Dicky Jackson
|
Archie Turner
|
OR
|
Billy Hogg
|
Alec Gardner
|
IR
|
Robbie Robinson
|
Bob McColl
|
CF
|
Jimmy Millar
|
Bill Appleyard
|
IL
|
Joe Hewitt
|
Bobby Templeton
|
OL
|
Arthur Bridgett
|
'Toffee Bob' McColl was the founder of a chain of corner shops that can still be seen to this day.
