Sunderland vs. Newcastle – Match Preview

Article by Newcastle Correspondent Sophie Hedley

Gus Poyet will be hoping to kick-start Sunderland’s season with a win in the Wear-Tyne derby.

Poyet goes into his first home game as manager with the club in serious danger, having only picked up one point out of a possible twenty four this season.

Whilst Sunderland fans will be hoping Poyet does a better job at the helm than Di Canio, a result similar to their 3-0 victory over Newcastle in April would definitely restore some faith in their team.

Newcastle, however, will be looking to continue their recent improvement, and after a win at Cardiff and a draw at home to Liverpool, a victory over their North East rivals would make things even sweeter.

Sunderland have a fully fit squad ahead of the heated derby.

Defender Wes Brown could start his first competitive game in 21 months, having recovered from a calf injury suffered in pre-season.

Adam Johnson is also set to start for Sunderland and will no doubt face an even more hostile reception from the away supporters due to the Geordie’s time at Middlesbrough.

Newcastle do not have the luxury of an injury free squad, and will be missing the 24 year old defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, who was sent off in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

The Toon are already playing one backup centre-half, with Mike Williamson in the side due to the injuries suffered by Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor.

Coloccini and Taylor are both fighting to be fit for Sunday’s derby but manager Alan Pardew will be unlikely to risk them if they’re not ready.

Last week’s goalscorer, local lad Paul Dummett, will be on stand-by to start if neither Coloccini nor Taylor make it. He told Newcastle United’s official website:

“For me to play out there... it would be the best feeling ever in the world, I think.

"That would be the biggest game of my life.

"Every year, as I've grown up, I've went to Sunderland away and stood with the fans on the buses travelling down there to watch the game and singing in the crowd.

"So if I'm not involved I want to be in that crowd singing songs and cheering these players on.

"I'm a local boy that wants to play for this Club so I'll be waiting to try to get involved. Hopefully the manager picks me in the squad.”

My Thoughts:

I don’t think this will be as easy as I’d love a match against the Mackems to be! Sunderland have been dire this season and Poyet didn’t exactly get things off to a good start for them against Swansea. However, if we were in this situation, I think a derby match is the best chance to raise morale and performance.

Poyet also knows how to beat us, since he knocked us out of the FA Cup with Brighton two years running.

Newcastle have improved a lot over the last two games though, especially the first halves against Liverpool and Cardiff. Those games saw us play our best football of the season, and hopefully the players will understand how important a match against Sunderland is. Having Steven Taylor in the starting line-up would help drill this into the team I think, but it’s still a doubt whether he’ll be fit enough to play.

Overall, I think our quality will prevail. A team with an on-form Yohan Cabaye or Hatem Ben Arfa should not lose to Sunderland, and I don’t think we will.

Predicted Newcastle Line-up:

Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, S. Taylor, Santon; Cabaye, Tiote, Sissoko; Gouffran, Ben Arfa, Remy

Score Prediction:

Sunderland 1-2 Newcastle.

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