I can't remember a Sunderland goal against Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light over the past decade which hasn't prompted a pitch invasion of some kind.

And I'd like to know what action, if any, has ever been taken against those who encroached the playing surface, something which is, after all, a criminal offence.

It certainly looked like nothing more was done than to herd the celebrating fans off the pitch and back into their seats.

Was any retrospective action taken? Did they have their season tickets taken from them?

So was it any surprise that both home goals in yesterday's game prompted pitch invasions, and the final whistle saw hundreds of supporters pour on to the pitch to goad those in the away end.

I'm not going to make any excuse for those Newcastle fans who reacted to this provocation and piled on to the cinder track and pitch themselves before trading punches with their rivals.

But to simply blame the supporters of both sides for the sickening scenes after the final whistle would mask the failings in stewarding and policing at the Stadium of Light, which have been there for all to see in Wear-Tyne derbies over a number of years.

Another flashpoint involved Joey Barton, who was pelted by bottles and coins as he used an advertising hoarding to stretch along with Jonas Gutierrez.

Not surprisingly, I've already seen some attempting to pin the blame on Barton, but what does it say about security at the stadium that a United player cannot warm up in safety?

I didn't see any of those who were flinging objects at Barton removed at the time, but surely it won't be difficult to identify the culprits with the help of CCTV footage.

They should also be banned from the Stadium of Light at the very least, as their brainless actions have no place in football.

The Football Association and Northumbria Police are probing the trouble.

And if they look back at the last few Wear-Tyne derbies, it won't be too difficult for them to see just why, sadly, the 140th meeting between the two sides will be remembered as much for fighting as football.