Jermain Defoe’s imperious volley on the stroke of half time was enough to deliver a fifth consecutive North East derby win for Sunderland yesterday. It also delivered a win for Dick Advocaat in his first home game in charge of the Black Cats.

Just like his two predecessors Gus Poyet and Paolo Di Canio, the timing of Advocaat’s arrival meant he faced Newcastle in his second game in charge and just like his predecessors he oversaw a win that will reinvigorate them as they battle relegation.

The Little General, as Advocaat is known, marshalled his troops to perfection. They started the game at a blistering pace, never letting their rivals settle and could have gone ahead after just nine minutes but Jonas Gutierrez was alert to the danger of Billy Jones’s cross and put it behind for a corner.

It was Gutierrez’s first start since August 2013, following his battle with cancer — a reminder that some things are more important than football.

Another came on 17 minutes when the whole stadium joined in a minute’s applause in memory of the two Newcastle fans who lost their lives on the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 last summer.

On 37 minutes Steven Fletcher’s flick-on created a superb chance for Defoe, but as he raced into space, his ponderous touch allowed Jack Colback to get across and clear for a corner.

As the game ebbed towards the break it seemed that Sunderland’s performance would not garner the lead they deserved. And then Defoe showed why Sunderland are paying him £70,000 a week.

Fletcher was again the provider, out-jumping Mike Williamson to head the ball on. As it dropped into Defoe’s path outside the area he unleashed a first-time, left-foot looping volley across Tim Krul and into the top corner.

The striker was mobbed by his teammates as the stadium erupted with delight and was still seemingly close to tears as he left the pitch at half time.

Sebastian Larsson twice and Patrick van Aaanholt both came close to doubling Sunderland’s lead in the second half while Newcastle, outfought and out-played throughout, failed to muster a chance on target in the whole game.

There is a sense that, with points in the bag, they seem happy to coast towards the end of the season, which bodes ill for John Carver’s future in the St James’ Park hotseat.