Sunderland were finally able to find a way to make their late pressure count against the ten men of Newcastle United. Former Black Cats prospect Jay Turner-Cooke was shown a second yellow card for a silly foul on Alex Bass as the second-half approached it's end.
It made for an exciting end to the game with Graeme Murty's side pushing for a late equaliser. The return of Ellis Taylor meant that the Wearsiders were a more potent threat from set-pieces and were unlucky not to find a breakthrough through Ben Crompton.
But it was Sunderland goalkeeper Alex Bass who came to meet a corner in stoppage time to seal dramatic point as the Black Cats nabbed a 1-1 draw from the jaws of defeat.
READ MORE: Newcastle U21s 1-1 Sunderland U21s highlights and reaction
Here's the key talking points from the Tyne-Wear derby:
Alex Bass with a moment of magic
If Alisson Becker can do it, so can Alex Bass. The Sunderland goalkeeper stole the headlines with a last gasp equaliser at St. James' Park.
The Black Cats goalkeeper rose highest to meet Taylor's corner on to the post and in a moment of good fortune, the cross cannoned off the post and rebounded off the goalkeeper as he landed on the floor. Sunderland sensed blood when they went down to ten men and were well deserving of their point.
Graeme Murty's men had hit the post and peppered the Newcastle goal in the final ten minutes of the game. None could have quite imagined the goalkeeper scoring the late equaliser.
Abdoullah Ba continues to impress
It's hard to not be impressed by the Sunderland midfielder when you watch him glide past players. The young French midfielder once again showed his quality in the heart of midfield, when the ball is at his feet he's a real pleasure to watch.
However, some of his defensive work can be called into question. There were times when his partner Jay Matete was left with an overload on one side of the pitch.
Saying that, Ba seems to be getting better with every passing game. He was given 45 minutes against the Magpies this evening before being replaced by Jewison Bennette.
It's clear there's a talent in there, but the lack of threat in the final third perhaps let him down inside the first-half. It wasn't for the want of trying, his forward balls found players in the final third but the Black Cats lacked any real conviction.
Huggins comeback trail
Niall Huggins was given the full 90 minutes for the first time in over a year as he continues his comeback from injury. The Sunderland right-back was once again a threat with his rampaging runs from deep.
Lynden Gooch is expected to be out until after the World Cup so Huggins' comeback could be the timely remedy Tony Mowbray needs. Trai Hume and Luke O'Nien have featured on the right-hand side of defence, but Huggins is a viable option.
He showed some good touches and looked calm under pressure while also a threat going forward. He's played at right-back in a back four for the majority of the Under-21s fixtures, but you feel he could be well suited to right-wing back in a five.
His pace allows him to get back into a defensive shape, when in an advanced position.
Switched off for Newcastle opener
Sunderland were caught napping for the opener. A well worked set-piece saw Joe White play a one-two with Dylan Stephenson before jinking towards the six-yard box and lashing an effort straight at Alex Bass.
The Black Cats shot stopper got something on it and will feel he should have saved it, but there was too much power on the shot and it went under the shot stopper and into the back of the net. In truth, the Wearsiders showed their naivety and switched off for the short corner.
Niall Huggins was the first to react but could do nothing with the deft backheel, with nobody else backing him up. The Magpies midfielder was a class above in truth.
Newcastle U21s XI: Smith, Barclay, Bondswell, Miley (Huntley 75), Brookwell, Murphy, Scott (Diallo 71), Turner-Cooke, Westendorf (Ndiweni 85), White, Stephenson
Subs: Wiggett, Brown.
Goal: White (32)
Sunderland U21s XI: Bass, Huggins, Johnson, Crompton, Newall, Matete (Burke 64), Ba (Bennette 45), Spellman (Kachosa 90), Taylor, Gardiner, Thompson
Subs: Richardson, Jessup
Attendance: 2,511
Goal: Bass (90+5)
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