Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe feels his derby winner was "meant to be".

Defoe hit a stunner for victory over Newcastle United.

"To score a goal like that and get the three points is an unbelievable feeling - it is days like this why you play football," he told the club's official website, safc.com.

"It was an amazing day and some things are meant to be.

"We were meant to get the three points and I suppose I was meant to score a goal like that, but it was just a special day and the team were unbelievable from back to front."