Sunderland Stage Famous Newcastle Team Photo Following Crucial Derby Victory.
New leadership and a largely changed squad – but someone at Sunderland had a long memory.
Back in 2024, after a comprehensive Magpies victory at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the rivals celebrated with a full squad photograph on the pitch.
On this occasion, the situation were turned on their head.
Nick Woltemade's own goal 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 recreate Newcastle's iconic snapshot at full-time.
“Always unpredictable, creative, adaptive,” smiled Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when asked about who came up with the idea.
Defender Dan Ballard, who was unfortunate to score an own goal in that previous encounter, was the lone Sunderland player to be in the starting XI in each of the games.
He revealed how he desperately wanted to make amends for the loss, stating: “You cannot describe [the feeling]. It was heartbreaking for the players and for the fans. We felt we had failed them, so we're ecstatic with this win.”
“It prepared us more for today. We came in with greater talent in this team, real leaders, we stuck in there, fought really hard and I thought we deserved the win.”
‘Local clashes are must-wins, by any means necessary’
Occupying seventh spot Sunderland are experiencing a superb return to the top flight following promotion via the play-offs last season.
The Black Cats have 26 points on the board in 16 games, their most 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 had an feverish atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon.
“In local rivalry matches, the result is everything, the performance secondary,” said captain Granit Xhaka. “This team deserves much more – where we are in the league is amazing and we're working really hard.”
Sunderland are also unbeaten in their last 10 league games against Newcastle, their longest such run without defeat against the Magpies.
Newcastle's last league win over Sunderland was all the way back in 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 stated. “This win is well deserved, we were mature and the lads were superb.”
“It's fantastic for the area, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a huge game, but we have to reset quickly as we have another hard game in Brighton in one week.”
