Sunderland Recreate Iconic Magpies Squad Picture After ‘Special’ Derby Win.
New leadership and an almost completely different team – but the club at Sunderland had a long memory.
Nearly two years ago, after a dominant Newcastle performance at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the rivals commemorated the moment with a team picture on the pitch.
Now, the script were turned on their head.
Nick Woltemade's mistake proved sufficient to deliver Sunderland a long-awaited win over their rivals in the inaugural Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to stage their own version of Newcastle's post-match snapshot at full-time.
“Consistently original, imaginative, versatile,” said with a grin Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when pressed about who suggested the gesture.
Defender Dan Ballard, who was unfortunate to score an own goal in that 2024 FA Cup tie, was the lone Sunderland player to be in the starting XI in each of the games.
He revealed how he was eager to rectify the loss, stating: “You cannot describe [the feeling]. It was so painful for the players and for the fans. We felt we had failed them, so we're ecstatic with this win.”
“That experience hardened us. We came in with more quality in this team, strong personalities, we persevered, fought really hard and I thought we deserved the win.”
‘Derbies you have to win, it does not matter how’
Occupying seventh spot Sunderland are experiencing a excellent return to the top flight post promotion via the play-offs last season.
The Black Cats have 26 points on the board in 16 games, their highest total at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01.
They are yet to lose in the league at the Stadium of Light, which was filled with an electric atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon.
“In local rivalry matches, the result is everything, the performance secondary,” said captain Granit Xhaka. “This team is worthy of more respect – where we are in the league is amazing and we're working really hard.”
Sunderland are also undefeated in their last 10 league games against Newcastle, their best-ever streak without defeat against the Magpies.
Newcastle's last league win over Sunderland was over a decade ago.
Manager Regis le Bris said he was “delighted and satisfied” with the outcome.
“It was a derby and we were expected [to win] of our fans,” he continued. “This win is fully merited, we were disciplined and the lads were incredible.”
“It's good for the region, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a huge game, but we have to turn the page as we have another hard game in Brighton in one week.”
