Former Sunderland star Kieran Richardson says his Wear-Tyne derby winner was the best goal of his career - and the Black Cats eclipse Manchester United as the best club he ever played for. Richardson scored a stunning free-kick against Newcastle United in October 2008 to end Sunderland's 28-year wait for a derby win on Wearside which had lasted since Stan Cummins had scored the only goal at Roker Park in April 1980.
Since then Sunderland have been regular derby winners, and are unbeaten in their last eight derby games with that sequence including a Tyne-Wear derby record six successive victories home and away. But 15 years ago at the Stadium of Light, Djibril Cisse put the Black Cats in front before Shola Ameobi levelled before half-time, setting the stage for Richardson to score the decisive goal 15 minutes from time.
"I remember it and I remember the build-up to it," Richardson told the club's SAFC Unfiltered podcast. "The week before we played Fulham away and I took two free-kicks - the first hit the crossbar and both posts but stayed out, and the second one went in but Pascal Chimbonda fouled someone in the wall so it was disallowed!
