Playing at home to another relegation threatened side in Charlton Athletic, the Black Cats would go on to lose the game 3-1, after scoring a hat-trick of own goals in seven first half minutes.

Full-back Steven Wright opened the floodgates by flicking a deflected Mark Fish shot into his own net before youngster and future lower-league journeyman Michael Proctor accidentally bundled two more past a helpless Thomas Sorensen.

Manager Howard Wilkinson, head bowed in embarrassment, promptly walked off down the tunnel. The fans slowly began to filter out, and if ever there is a time where it is okay to leave early it would be after you just watched your side score three own goals in one half. Sunderland sank to the bottom of the league for the first time that season and would remain there for another 113 days.

To concede one own goal in a game is unfortunate enough. But three in seven minutes is ample enough evidence to suggest that God had decided to be a Newcastle fan during 2003.