Sunderland exact sweet derby revenge with ‘visitors’ jibe at Newcastle United
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Sunderland manager Regis le Bris and coaching staff celebrating after a 1-0 English Premier League win over their local rivals at the Stadium of Light on Dec 14 as Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe looks on.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
NEWCASTLE – Sunderland savoured their sweetest victory in years on Dec 14, beating Newcastle United 1-0 in an English Premier League derby that served as perfect revenge for a painful FA Cup humiliation in 2024.
But Black Cats boss Regis le Bris insisted their first Tyne-Wear derby win for nearly a decade would not go to their heads.
“We have to stay smart and respectful. It’s a game and when you win, you’re happy,” he said.
“We have players who were here for a long time, so they probably know better than the new ones how important this derby is, especially when you lost the previous one.
“Now it’s a question of just being composed. I repeat: You can enjoy and then reset because we have another tough challenge in a week.”
Sunderland’s triumph at the Stadium of Light was sealed by an unfortunate own goal from Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade, lifting the hosts to seventh place and within two points of the top four, ahead of the final game of the round on Dec 15.
The victory was particularly sweet for defender Dan Ballard, who had scored an own goal in Sunderland’s crushing 3-0 FA Cup home defeat by Newcastle in January 2024 – the teams’ only meeting since March 2016, before the lively encounter on Dec 14.
“You cannot describe (the feeling). It was so painful (losing at home to Newcastle) for the players and for the fans. We felt we had let them down, so we’re delighted with this win,” Ballard told Sky Sports.
“It prepared us more for today. We came in with more quality in this team, real leaders. We stuck in there, fought really hard and I thought we deserved the win.
Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade scores Sunderland’s first with an own goal past Newcastle United's Aaron Ramsdale.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“There was not much in the game in terms of chances. When you go a goal ahead, it’s about game management and I thought we did that very well. The boys were brilliant.”
Sunderland made their feelings crystal clear before kick-off, unfurling a massive banner showing a ferocious black cat pouncing on a terrified magpie – in reference to Newcastle’s nickname.
The home side’s contempt was further displayed on the digital scoreboard, which replaced Newcastle’s name and crest with just one word – “Visitors”.
When the game kicked off, Newcastle huffed and puffed to no avail, while Sunderland looked more likely to score as they piled pressure on their rivals throughout the match.
When the final whistle blew, le Bris was mobbed by his coaching staff, while the home crowd – who had also given Woltemade a cheeky standing ovation when he was substituted – erupted.
Sunderland even replicated Newcastle’s team photo in front of the away end in 2024 by taking their own picture in front of the Roker End.
Elsewhere on Dec 14, Thomas Frank said there is no “quick fix” to Tottenham Hotspur’s problems after a sobering 3-0 Premier League defeat at Nottingham Forest.
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored twice and Ibrahim Sangare also found the net to pile pressure on the under-fire Frank.
Spurs have now won just once in their past seven league matches and are mired in mid-table.
Asked after the game if he would be given time to implement his ideas, Frank said: “I can’t see why not. I think it’s pretty evident that if no one gets the time, no one can turn this around. This is not a quick fix.”
He added that, while he may appear cool, he is hiding a “hurricane” inside him.
“I do everything to control my emotions, which is a hurricane inside me, because of course it’s deeply frustrating that we are not doing better today after three good performances,” he said.
REUTERS, AFP
