Bournemouth avoided an FA Cup banana skin, by coming back from 2-0 down to beat Championship strugglers QPR and book their place in the next round.
The striker was suspended by the Football Association after admitting to 232 breaches of their gambling rules but will mark his first-team comeback this month.
Sam Corne's penalty gave them a 1-0 lead over Stevenage of League One and they clung onto it during a fierce rearguard action that lasted most of the second half.
While a lot has changed since that fixture, the rivalry between the North East's two most storied clubs remains just as emotionally charged as ever.
This was Mail Sport's live blog for the latest scores, team news and updates as Sunderland hosted Newcastle in the FA Cup third-round.
CRAIG HOPE AT THE STADIUM OF LIGHT: An atmosphere that had boiled quickly ran as cool as the winter air, and with it Sunderland's hopes of an upset evaporated.
Millwall, who scored goals of their own through Duncan Watmore and Zian Flemming, were often the better side here but missed a host of chances.
There is no VAR for the FA Cup game between Sunderland and Newcastle at the Stadium of Light on Saturday - and the rule is not an easy one to explain.
Brazil is in mourning after one of the country's most iconic former players and managers died at the age of 92. His passing means that there are now no members of the iconic 1958 side left alive.
SAMI MOKBEL: Having spent six years on Merseyside, Arteta is familiar with the sentiment. He knows what it's like to exist in the shadow of the red half across Stanley Park.
IAN HERBERT: The third round weekend is the one which, as football's rich get richer, preserves the game's beating heart, and never has there been a greater need to appreciate it.
CRAIG HOPE: The Dutch boss named England's captain on the bench and started instead with rookie Paul Robinson, a Sunderland fan, in attack. Duncan Ferguson was also kept in reserve.
MARTIN KEOWN TALKS TACTICS: This is a big match for Arteta's team after losing three of their last five in the Premier League. There has been one obvious tactic used against Arsenal of late.
Jurgen Klopp 's side face two big cup ties in four days with an FA Cup third round trip to Arsenal on Sunday followed by a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Fulham at Anfield on Wednesday.
Recap Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Tottenham host Burnley in the FA Cup third round. Plus updates from Brentford vs Wolves and Fulham vs Rotherham.
