Sunderland Vs Newcastle United Confirmed Lineups

The Black Cats are now on the longest run without a win in the Premier League (12 games; W0 D5 L7).

“It’s a one-off game, a tough one”.

Colin Randall: Yann M’Vila. He has six goals this season and is unsafe whenever he gets on the ball in the last third.

CR: Yep, Lee said it: Wijnaldum.

Newcastle will run out at the Stadium of Light determined to avoid a record sixth successive defeat by their neighbours, but buoyed by last Sunday’s 6-2 home victory over Norwich, their first of the new Barclays Premier League campaign. Sunderland’s defence has been so shaky – 19 goals conceded in nine league games, 26 in 11 if two League Cup ties are added – and Wijnaldum’s mere presence will heighten nervousness among Allardyce’s defenders. As of today it’s: Sunderland 227, Newcastle 223. “I wasn’t his man and he just listened to more vocal fans who demanded change”. The 1-9 drubbing at St. James’ Park in 1908 – and largest win in the fixture – won by Sunderland.

“It’s not just another game, far from it”, says Allardyce.

Gullit left the job shortly afterwards and was replaced by Bobby Robson, who restored Shearer to the team, but the Newcastle legend says that there are no hard feelings between the two and told The Chronicle that “life is too short” so they patched up their differences, and even play the odd round of golf together.

Steve McClaren’s side go into the match with the same starting XI from the victory last week. Big-money summer signing Fabio Borini is yet to get off the mark in terms of goals, so it is high time – if fit to play a part – that he delivers in a fixture which Sunderland must win, as they sit bottom of the Premier League already six points from safety and still waiting for their first win. However, as he is about to cut in to shoot, Cattermole gets across to deflect the ball out for a corner kick. It can have a more damning effect losing this game than any other.

Because we know now what these players are really all about. Clearly these players are good players, and at least the fans have seen a few sort of improvement effort-wise this season than they have done last season.

LR: Confidence is on the up on Tyneside.

“If you grab that chance then and you impress me, it’s going to give you the opportunity to be selected for the first team in the next game”.

“The atmosphere and the intensity of the derby is huge but on the day you have to rise to it and perform, whilst also making sure everyone has cool heads and takes advantage of that intensity to win the game”.

“I remember thinking that the time before that Sunderland had won was under Peter Reid, when Bobby (Robson) was manager”.