🔗 Share this article Sunderland Stage Notorious Magpies Group Snapshot Following Crucial Derby Victory. Sunderland players and staff posed for a picture to celebrate their victory over their local foes. A different manager and a largely changed squad – but the club at Sunderland remembered vividly. Nearly two years ago, after a dominant Newcastle performance at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the Geordies commemorated the moment with a team picture on the pitch. This time, the roles were turned on their head. Nick Woltemade's mistake proved decisive to deliver Sunderland a historic win over their rivals in the inaugural Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to mimic Newcastle's celebratory snapshot at full-time. “Always unpredictable, creative, adaptive,” said with a grin Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when asked about who suggested the idea. Defender Dan Ballard, who conceded an own goal in that previous encounter, was the lone Sunderland player to start in each of the games. He revealed how he desperately wanted to make amends for the loss, stating: “Words can't express it. It was so painful for the players and for the fans. We felt we had disappointed them, so we're overjoyed with this win.” “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 merited the win.” Sunderland paid homage to this picture from Newcastle's previous triumph over the Black Cats. ‘Derbies you have to win, it does not matter how’ Sitting in seventh Sunderland are enjoying a excellent return to the top flight after promotion via the play-offs last season. The Black Cats have 26 points in 16 games, their highest total at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01. They are undefeated in the league at the Stadium of Light, which boasted 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 remarkable and we're working really hard.” Sunderland are also unbeaten 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 back in August 2011. Manager Regis le Bris said he was “extremely pleased” with the performance. “It was a derby and we were expected [to win] of our fans,” he added. “This win is well deserved, we were disciplined and the lads were outstanding.” “It's positive for the local community, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a huge game, but we have to turn the page as we have another difficult test in Brighton in one week.” The Sunderland scoreboard at Stadium of Light did not display Newcastle's name.
Sunderland players and staff posed for a picture to celebrate their victory over their local foes. A different manager and a largely changed squad – but the club at Sunderland remembered vividly. Nearly two years ago, after a dominant Newcastle performance at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the Geordies commemorated the moment with a team picture on the pitch. This time, the roles were turned on their head. Nick Woltemade's mistake proved decisive to deliver Sunderland a historic win over their rivals in the inaugural Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to mimic Newcastle's celebratory snapshot at full-time. “Always unpredictable, creative, adaptive,” said with a grin Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when asked about who suggested the idea. Defender Dan Ballard, who conceded an own goal in that previous encounter, was the lone Sunderland player to start in each of the games. He revealed how he desperately wanted to make amends for the loss, stating: “Words can't express it. It was so painful for the players and for the fans. We felt we had disappointed them, so we're overjoyed with this win.” “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 merited the win.” Sunderland paid homage to this picture from Newcastle's previous triumph over the Black Cats. ‘Derbies you have to win, it does not matter how’ Sitting in seventh Sunderland are enjoying a excellent return to the top flight after promotion via the play-offs last season. The Black Cats have 26 points in 16 games, their highest total at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01. They are undefeated in the league at the Stadium of Light, which boasted 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 remarkable and we're working really hard.” Sunderland are also unbeaten 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 back in August 2011. Manager Regis le Bris said he was “extremely pleased” with the performance. “It was a derby and we were expected [to win] of our fans,” he added. “This win is well deserved, we were disciplined and the lads were outstanding.” “It's positive for the local community, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a huge game, but we have to turn the page as we have another difficult test in Brighton in one week.” The Sunderland scoreboard at Stadium of Light did not display Newcastle's name.