Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill has slammed Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote after Sunday's derby.

Stephane Sessegnon was sent off after a clash with Tiote.

"Sessegnon deserved to be sent off the pitch, I said that at the time, because he raised his arm in retaliation," O'Neill said.

"He's flung an arm back in the manner that, if the referee sees, he has no option but to send him off.

"Tiote, this 'hard man' of the Premier League, has clutched part of his anatomy that wasn't even touched - he was hit between the chest and neck - enough to hit a fly over.

"He's gone down two and a half seconds after the incident, and rolled around 14 times."