NEWCASTLE PREVIEW

Sunderland host Newcastle United in the first Premier League Wear-Tyne derby since 2016. A win for the visitors would see them usurp us in the league table for the first time this season and a win for us would maintain our top half position and move us back into the European spots. Here’s the key information on our main rivals:

FORM

Newcastle are in good form in the league, having won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five matches. The wins came against Manchester City at home (2-1), Everton away (4-1) and Burnley at home (2-1), the draw was against Tottenham Hotspur at home (2-2) and the defeat against Brentford away (3-1). In all competitions, they’ve won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five. All competitions adds in a 2-1 loss away to Marseille and a 2-2 draw away to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. On the road this season, the Magpies have struggled, winning just one of their seven league matches and taking just six points from a possible 21, however they did win their most recent domestic away game, versus Everton. NUFC currently sit 12th in the PL on 22 points, having won six, drawn four and lost five, scoring 21 and conceding 19. Their most recent domestic game was the 2-1 win against Burnley, with Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon finding the back of the net. Their most recent game in any competition was the 2-2 draw with Leverkusen, with Gordon scoring again and Lewis Miley getting their second.

THE MANAGER

48-year-old Eddie Howe is currently in charge, he took the job in November 2021. Since then, he’s managed 196 matches, winning 102, drawing 38 and losing 56. He won a League Cup at his current club in March 2025 and was very successful at his previous job at Bournemouth. Whilst there, he won a second tier title and automatic promotions out of League One and League Two. He’s been named the Premier League Manager of the Month five times, most recently in October 2022, and also previously had a brief spell in charge of Burnley. Howe had a playing career as a centre back, mainly playing for Bournemouth.

KEY PLAYERS

Nick Pope is their current number one but he is an injury doubt for this game and has missed the last few matches. In his place has been Aaron Ramsdale, he has played seven games this season and kept one clean sheet. Pope has played 17 games and has kept eight clean sheets. Harvey Barnes, Nick Woltemade and Gordon are all their joint-top goalscorers, they all have seven goals so far this season. Guimaraes is their top playmaker, with five assists in 22 appearances. Ramsdale and Woltemade both joined in the last summer transfer window and other new additions included, striker Yoane Wissa, right winger Anthony Elanga and left winger Jacob Ramsey.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

We have met Newcastle 157 times, winning on 53 occasions, drawing 50 and losing 54. Our most recent meeting was a 3-0 defeat at home in the FA Cup in January 2024, our last league meeting was a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park in March 2016. Our most recent derby day victory was in October 2015, when we beat them 3-0 at the Stadium of Light.

PREDICTION

The derby is always a hard one to predict, form can go completely out of the window and it’s often a matter of whoever turns up on the day gets the points. Obviously, they aren’t good away from home but they are one of those teams who always seem to show up for the big games. We’ve got virtually a full strength team available for this one and they’ll be more tired than us due to them having played on Wednesday night. They’ll also have to consider their selection for the League Cup quarter final three days after the game. I’m going to say we win 2-1, it’s going to be narrow either way and I wouldn’t be surprised if they take the lead because they often do that away from home and then capitulate afterwards.