Alan Pardew and Martin O'Neill agree truce ahead of derby between Newcastle United and Sunderland The managers clashed several times on the touchline during the 1-1 draw between the two sides at St James" Park in March and at one stage were held apart by coaching staff and the fourth official. In a hostile encounter, Tony Woodman, Newcastle's goalkeeping coach, was sent to the stands at half-time and Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole was shown a red card after the final whistle for verbally abusing referee Mike Dean. Neither manager was complimentary about the other in the post-match press conference, although both conceded they had been partly to blame for the row. "Silly things got said on the bench, it got out of hand and it was unsavoury but it happens," Pardew said. It's a passionate game but maybe I could have been a bit more grown-up about it. However, the pair shook hands at the League Managers" Association end-of-season awards dinner and apologised to each other for their behaviour. The Daily Telegraph understands O'Neill congratulated Pardew for the excellent job he had done in transforming Newcastle from relegation candidates to Champions League contenders. Pardew received the Manager of the Year award at the dinner and in turn praised O'Neill for the work he did re-energising Sunderland after Steve Bruce was sacked last November. Both men acknowledged they should not be behaving in a way that potentially inflamed a rivalry that is among the most passionate and volatile in European football. Their sensible response will be welcomed by the Football Association ahead of Sunday's game. Newcastle are expected to be strengthened by the return of centre-backs Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini from injury, while goalkeeper Tim Krul could also be back in contention. Meanwhile, Newcastle striker Nile Ranger has been given a 12-month conditional discharge, after admitting assaulting two police officers during a night out last August. But two charges of assault against two other people were dropped after Newcastle Crown Court heard the 21 year-old was racially abused and was struck first. Ranger was ordered to pay compensation of £750 to each of the police officers.