IT WAS billed as the “derby to be proud of” between Newcastle and Sunderland, from hate to hope.

Such a sentiment was dismissed by some as being happy-clapper fodder, that the poison between the sets of supporters was what made the derby special.

But for many, yesterday’s fixture, in the wake of Sunderland’s fundraising for the families of John Alder and Liam Sweeney in August, this game felt like a fresh start. The 151st derby was the first under a new banner of mutual respect.

It was a new chapter. But in the end, the result for Newcastle United was a familiar story. Their fourth defeat to Sunderland in a row, the first time that has happened in 151 meetings.

While everything felt different, some things stay the same.

Off the pitch, there were reports of minor scuffles here and there. A little bit of needle, which is understandable between the two sets of fans.

Regardless of the timing of kick-off – brought forward to 1.30pm – drink had been taken on both sides and, as Gus Poyet pointed out in midweek, it would be naive to think that fans would be hugging and backslapping each other.

Northumbria Police opted against an escort for Sunderland fans from Newcastle Central Station, for whom there was no special Metro service unlike other years. On the second-busiest shopping day of the year, it could have been a recipe for disaster. But the hands-off approach seemed to, by and large, be effective.

The large-scale disorder between warring fans did not rear its ugly head this time around, which was a relief. This derby should be the jewel in the crown in the Premier League, but has diminished in stature over the years, partly due to early kick-offs forced by the threat of violence between the two factions.

Anyone who has been to a derby match between Newcastle and Sunderland, whether it be at St James’ Park or the Stadium of Light, knows what it is all about.

Blood and thunder, passion, and mainly a lot of noise. This never seems to translate well nationally. Its place as the best fixture in the country seems to be ignored, with more column inches given to Liverpool-Everton or the North London derby.

Spend ten minutes at a Newcastle-Sunderland game, you will feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, and good luck hearing anything afterwards as your ears will be ringing from the noise.

Add to that 22 committed players going hell for leather, treating this game with the importance it deserves.

That hasn’t changed. That has always been there.

Inside the ground, which was as expected, packed to the rafters, there were moments where the new respect between the fans was felt.

On 17 minutes, Newcastle’s scoreboard displayed shirts with John and Liam’s names on, thanking Sunderland fans for their efforts in raising £33,000 for charity after the tragic events of MH17, where the plane on which the two fans were travelling was shot down over Ukraine.

Applause rang out around St James’ Park, with Sunderland fans joining in. Not just a pocket, but the majority. When you talk about pride and respect, it was encapsulated in that moment.

Then it was Newcastle’s turn. On 33 minutes, they applauded Sunderland’s support – the 33 symbolising the £33,000 raised after MH17.

These moments will not come about every time the two sides meet. Nobody is naive to think that applauding each other will be the way these games go. It was a rare truce between two sets of supporters who are united by a love of football, but divided by red and white, black and white.

Those divisions will not diminish. There will always be discord between the two clubs.

But this fixture has gone from being a hateful cauldron of violence and poison to something resembling respect in quite a short space of time.

And that is truly something to be proud of.