It was the first meeting between the two teams since a 1-1 draw in the Premier League in March 2016 and their first clash in the FA Cup since 1956, when Sunderland won 2-0 in the quarter-final of the competition.
An own goal from Dan Ballard sent Newcastle ahead in the 35th minute, before Alexander Isak netted twice in the second half, with Eddie Howe’s side proving to be far too strong for their Championship opponents on the afternoon.
Newcastle started firmly on the front foot at the Stadium of Light and had an opportunity in the second minute through Sean Longstaff, but Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson managed to keep out his close-range effort.
The atmosphere was absolutely electric, with Sunderland managing to resist the early pressure from the Magpies, who had another attempt on target in the 14th minute, but Kieran Trippier’s free kick was comfortably kept out by Patterson.
Top-class defending from Ballard prevented Newcastle’s Isak from having a strike on goal in the 30th minute, with the centre-back managing to muscle the Magpies forward off the ball in a very dangerous area.
Isak wanted a penalty, although replays showed that what could have been considered a foul was outside the box, and it was a fair battle between two players desperate for the ball.
Newcastle had another opportunity in the 34th minute when the ball fell kindly for Longstaff on the edge of the box, but the midfielder fired high into the stands, which brought cheers from the Sunderland supporters.
The breakthrough arrived for the visitors in the 35th minute, though, with Ballard turning a low cross from Joelinton into the back of his own net from close range; Isak was waiting behind, so the defender had to react, but he could only convert into his own goal.
Newcastle came close to a second shortly before the break, with Miguel Almiron attempting a spectacular volley, but his effort dropped just wide of the post.
The visitors then doubled their advantage less than a minute into the second period, with Isak turning into an empty net after being found by Almiron, who had taken the ball away from Pierre Ekwah, with the defender punished for attempting to dribble out of his own box.
Sunderland attempted to immediately hit back, with Ekwah striking from distance, but Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka did well to keep out the deflected effort.
Alex Pritchard then struck the top of the crossbar with a brilliant effort in the 59th minute, with Sunderland attempting to halve the deficit with plenty of time left in the Tyne-Wear derby.
Newcastle came close to a third in the 72nd minute through Almiron, but a wonderful block from Sunderland defender Luke O’Nien prevented a certain goal.
Pritchard had another opportunity in the 74th minute, with the lively attacker looking to pick out the bottom corner following another strong run, but Dubravka was on hand to make a smart save.
Anthony Gordon then just missed the target with a strike from a narrow angle in the 80th minute, but Newcastle scored a third from the penalty spot in the 90th minute, with Isak registering after Ballard had brought Gordon to the ground with a heavy challenge inside the box.
