Aleksandar Mitrovics late header rescued a 1-1 draw for Newcastle in a frenetic Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland on Super Sunday. The Black Cats looked to be on their way to a seventh consecutive victory over their local rivals after Jermain Defoe gave them a deserved first-half lead, but Mitrovic headed Newcastles equaliser with just seven minutes of normal time remaining.From Newcastle ending their derby hoodoo to Defoes importance to Sunderland, we look at the top talking points from the game… Newcastle end their derby hoodoo Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez speaks to Sky Sports after his side fought back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with rivals Sunderland It was not the victory that Newcastle would have wanted, nor was it a performance to provide too much encouragement for Rafael Benitez, but Mitrovics late equaliser finally ended a six-game losing streak against their bitter rivals - and the wild celebrations inside St James Park showed just how much it meant.Not since a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light in October 2012 have Newcastle avoided defeat in the Tyne-Wear derby, and for a long time it looked like recent history was about to repeat itself. Sunderland were largely untroubled for long periods, and Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness felt the result will have been more disappointing for the visitors.Sunderland will think they have let it slip, and Newcastle, who didnt take part in the game in the first half, were a lot better in the second half, he said. Its not a disaster for either side as it doesnt decide anything, but Sunderland will be the more disappointed because they were 10 minutes away from three points which would have gone a long way towards survival.Mitrovic rescues Rafa Mitrovic celebrates after levelling the match Mitrovic has struggled to live up to expectations since his £13m arrival from Anderlecht in the summer, but after scoring the winner against West Brom in February, this was another crucial strike in Newcastles battle to avoid the drop.The Serb talked about emulating Alan Shearer when he arrived in the north-east, and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher saw shades of the Newcastle legend in his towering header from Georginio Wijnaldums cross. Thats what you want to see, said Carragher. You think of Newcastle forwards and its that. Its a powerful header at the back post, reminiscent of a Les Ferdinand or an Alan Shearer.Mitrovics passion couldnt be questioned either. His jubilant celebration befitted the occasion, and Newcastles medical staff had to physically force him off the pitch after he suffered a nasty head injury in stoppage time.Evergreen Defoe strikes again Jermain Defoe dispatches Sunderlands opening goal at St James Park Mitrovic will dominate the headlines but his dramatic equaliser should not overshadow another vital contribution from Defoe. The 33-year-olds 12th Premier League goal of the season was struck with unerring accuracy on the volley and, in the Sky Sports studio, Sunderland legend Niall Quinn was impressed.Having missed a good chance earlier on that we might have expected Jermain to score, he kept his eye on a very difficult looping ball that came his way and he tucked it away, said Quinn. You just cannot beat that, at this time of the year especially. Its fantastic Shot conversion rate - Premier League 2015/16 (min. 20 shots) Player Team Shot conversion % Jermain Defoe Sunderland 30.0% Riyad Mahrez Leicester 28.6% Georginio Wijnaldum Newcastle 25.7% Romelu Lukaku Everton 24.7% Sergio Aguero Man City 24.2% Defoes intelligent movement made him a constant menace to the hosts, but it is his enduring finishing ability that is making the difference for Sunderland this season. Of players to have had at least 20 shots in the current campaign, Defoes conversion rate of 30 per cent is the best in the Premier League. His goals have won Sunderland 13 points in total, and he could yet prove decisive in the relegation run-in.Encouraging signs from Townsend Andros Townsend made his first start for Newcastle under Rafael Benitez It was no great surprise to see Andros Townsend omitted from Roy Hodgsons England squad given his struggles for form and fitness since joining Newcastle from Tottenham in January, but the winger was given a chance to provide a reminder of his abilities with his first start since mid-February.There were encouraging signs, too. In the opening exchanges he sent inviting crosses towards Mitrovic and Moussa Sissoko from the right flank, and he also stung Vito Mannones palms from outside the area following a jinking run through a crowd of Sunderland defenders. Newcastle 1-1 Sunderland: Top creaters Player Team Chances created Andros Townsend Newcastle 6 Wahbi Khazri Sunderland 4 Jack Rodwell Sunderland 3 Fabio Borini Sunderland 2 Georginio Wijnaldum Newcastle 2 Townsend faded slightly before his second-half substitution, but he was Newcastles most dangerous attacking outlet overall and by the time he was replaced by Papiss Cisse he had provided more goalscoring chances (six) than any other player on the pitch.Advantage Norwich? Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce rues two dropped points against Newcastle The home fans at St James Park were not the only set of supporters celebrating Mitrovics late equaliser. A Sunderland victory would have sent Norwich back into the bottom three, but the draw means the Canaries stay two points clear after their 1-0 win over West Brom on Saturday.Sunderland and Newcastle each have a game in hand on Alex Neils side, but this result sets up a thrilling relegation run-in. 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SPRINGFIELD, N.J. -- This hurts, but its not the writhing, seething pain he felt a year ago at St. Andrews, where Jason Day wondered if it was ever going to happen for him in a major championship.There at the home of golf, Day let an excellent opportunity slip away over the closing holes, missing a playoff by one excruciating shot, the doubts surrounding him growing darker and deeper as he left The Open.Here, another opportunity presented itself at the PGA Championship, and Day again came up a shot short of a playoff, having to watch from the 18th green at Baltusrol Golf Club as Jimmy Walker holed the winning par putt, defenseless to do anything.But this loss was different.The PGA Championship he won a year ago at Whistling Straits helped alleviate a lot of the angst. So did all the success that followed and led him to being the No. 1-ranked player in the world. He has a major, and that can never be taken away.And then theres the way he played here at Baltusrol, shooting four rounds in the 60s, eagling the final hole to make it interesting, rebounding from two early bogeys in the final round to shoot 67. Day finished 13 under par.It is kind of difficult to beat yourself up over that.Im a little disappointed, but you know what? At the end of the day, I came in here with not the greatest preparation, Day said. Im very, very happy with how I played all week.Day, 28, now has four runner-up finishes in majors and 13 top-10s. It is an impressive record, no doubt, and hes still on track for a PGA Tour player of the year award after three wins, including a World Golf Championship event and the Players Championship.Perhaps at some other time he will rue all the close calls. A second major championship is crucial, if being considered among the greats of the game is part of Days ultimate plan.Phil Mickelson has often spoke about how important winning the PGA was here in 2005. It was his second major victory, following his breakthrough at the Masters in 2004. Mickelson also said he would win multiple majors, and that one at Baltusrol sent him on his way, as he won the Masters the following spring and nearly the U.S. Open after that. Now hes in the Hall of Fame with five wins at majors.Like others, Day could point to the unrelenting schedule this year, made necessary by golfs returnn to the Olympic Games.dddddddddddd. Just two weeks ago, he was competing in Scotland, and although he didnt contend at The Open, he was there for four days. From Scotland, he headed to Toronto to defend his title at the Canadian Open. Then he came to New Jersey for the PGA Championship.An early-week cold left him feeling lethargic and in need of rest, so he didnt get onto the course for a practice round until Wednesday. Day wasnt making any excuses, but clearly thats not the ideal way to go into a major championship. Walker, for his part, missed the cut at Royal Troon and didnt play last week. Maybe that was the difference at Baltusrol?I think they all hurt, said Colin Swatton, Days long-time caddie and coach. But its not like he went out and shot 75. Hes won three times, second in a major. Its one of those days where he gave it a go and someone else plays a bit better and gets the job done.The circumstances surrounding the weather and the way the final two rounds unfolded also did not help Day.When play was suspended on Saturday with the leaders never getting on the course, the decision was made to keep the same pairings throughout the third and fourth rounds, in order to speed up play and attempt to get the tournament finished Sunday -- which unfolded better than could have been expected.But had the situation been normal, Days third-round 67 would have put him in a final pairing with Walker, who had his own issues to deal with in trying to win his first major.Yes, that would have been nice, Day said. It would have been nice to play in the last group with him, just to be able to go back and forth with him, maybe put a little bit more pressure on him, because usually that becomes a match play format, where youre going back and forth. More mistakes or crucial moments can happen in situations like that.Day wasnt complaining. He understood exactly why it played out as it did. And he was gracious in defeat, waiting beside the green to congratulate Walker and his family.So Day wont be losing any sleep.In fact, he expected to sleep quite well, given the level of exhaustion that came with a grueling final day that ended up being one shot too many. ' ' '