🔗 Share this article Sunderland Recreate Iconic Magpies Team Photo In the Wake of Crucial Derby Victory. Sunderland players and staff posed for a picture to celebrate their win over their local foes. An altered coaching staff and a vastly altered lineup – but the club at Sunderland had a long memory. Almost 24 months prior, after a dominant Newcastle performance at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the visitors commemorated the moment with a team picture on the pitch. On this occasion, the script were reversed. Nick Woltemade's mistake proved decisive to hand Sunderland a long-awaited win over their rivals in the inaugural Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to recreate Newcastle's post-match snapshot at full-time. “Always unpredictable, creative, adaptive,” remarked 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 sole Sunderland player to start in each of the games. He explained how he was eager to rectify the loss, stating: “You cannot describe [the feeling]. It was so painful for the players and for the fans. We felt we had disappointed them, so we're ecstatic with this win.” “That experience hardened us. We came in with greater talent in this team, strong personalities, we dug deep, fought really hard and I thought we earned the win.” Sunderland recreated this picture from Newcastle's cup win over the Black Cats. ‘Derbies you have to win, it does not matter how’ Seventh-placed Sunderland are enjoying a superb return to the top flight after promotion via the play-offs last season. The Black Cats have 26 points 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 was filled with an incredible atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon. “These games are all about the victory, by hook or by crook,” 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 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 outcome. “It was a derby and we were expected [to win] of our fans,” he stated. “This win is fully merited, we were disciplined and the lads were superb.” “It's positive for the local community, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a special game, but we have to reset quickly as we have another tough challenge in Brighton in one week.” The Sunderland scoreboard at Stadium of Light chose not to show Newcastle's name.
Sunderland players and staff posed for a picture to celebrate their win over their local foes. An altered coaching staff and a vastly altered lineup – but the club at Sunderland had a long memory. Almost 24 months prior, after a dominant Newcastle performance at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the visitors commemorated the moment with a team picture on the pitch. On this occasion, the script were reversed. Nick Woltemade's mistake proved decisive to hand Sunderland a long-awaited win over their rivals in the inaugural Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to recreate Newcastle's post-match snapshot at full-time. “Always unpredictable, creative, adaptive,” remarked 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 sole Sunderland player to start in each of the games. He explained how he was eager to rectify the loss, stating: “You cannot describe [the feeling]. It was so painful for the players and for the fans. We felt we had disappointed them, so we're ecstatic with this win.” “That experience hardened us. We came in with greater talent in this team, strong personalities, we dug deep, fought really hard and I thought we earned the win.” Sunderland recreated this picture from Newcastle's cup win over the Black Cats. ‘Derbies you have to win, it does not matter how’ Seventh-placed Sunderland are enjoying a superb return to the top flight after promotion via the play-offs last season. The Black Cats have 26 points 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 was filled with an incredible atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon. “These games are all about the victory, by hook or by crook,” 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 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 outcome. “It was a derby and we were expected [to win] of our fans,” he stated. “This win is fully merited, we were disciplined and the lads were superb.” “It's positive for the local community, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a special game, but we have to reset quickly as we have another tough challenge in Brighton in one week.” The Sunderland scoreboard at Stadium of Light chose not to show Newcastle's name.