On this day (May 16) in 1990, Newcastle United lost their Second Division playoff semi-final to Sunderland in front of more than 32,000 people at St James’ Park. The Magpies suffered a 2-0 defeat in the second leg and ‘crowd disorder followed’.
The first leg was in front of 26,641 supporters at Roker Park and finished 0-0, but Newcastle were beaten in their own backyard and had to watch their biggest rivals earn promotion to the First Division after Swindon Town were automatically relegated to the Second Division because of irregular payments.
Jim Smith started John Burridge, John Anderson, Darren Bradshaw, Bjorn Kristensen, Kevin Scott, Mark Stimson, Roy Aitken, Billy Askew, Kevin Brock, Mark McGhee and Mick Quinn against Sunderland, but his side fell short over the 90 minutes and disappointed in both legs.
United finished third in the Second Division that season with 80 points from 46 games and had to wait until 1993 to get back into the top-flight under Kevin Keegan.
