🔗 Share this article The Black Cats Mimic Notorious Newcastle Team Photo In the Wake of Pivotal Derby Triumph. A commemorative snap was taken by the squad to commemorate their win over their rivals. A different manager and a largely changed squad – but the club at Sunderland had a long memory. Almost 24 months prior, after a comprehensive Magpies victory at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the rivals marked the occasion with a team picture on the pitch. This time, the situation were flipped. Nick Woltemade's mistake proved decisive to deliver Sunderland a historic win over their rivals in the return of the Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to mimic Newcastle's post-match snapshot at full-time. “Consistently original, imaginative, versatile,” remarked Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when pressed about who suggested the photograph. Defender Dan Ballard, who conceded an own goal in that cup defeat, was the lone Sunderland player to be in the starting XI in both games. He revealed how he desperately wanted to avenge the loss, stating: “You cannot describe [the feeling]. It was agonizing for the players and for the fans. We felt we had let them down, so we're ecstatic with this win.” “It prepared us more for today. We came in with greater talent in this team, strong personalities, we stuck in there, fought really hard and I thought we earned the win.” Sunderland paid homage to this picture from Newcastle's cup win over the Black Cats. ‘Derbies you have to win, it does not matter how’ Sitting in seventh Sunderland are having a superb return to the top flight post promotion via the play-offs last season. The Black Cats have a tally of 26 points in 16 games, their most at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01. They are still unbeaten in the league at the Stadium of Light, which boasted an incredible atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon. “Derbies, you have to win, it does not matter how,” said captain Granit Xhaka. “This team is worthy of more respect – 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 best-ever streak 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 under pressure to deliver of our fans,” he continued. “This win is well deserved, we were mature and the lads were superb.” “It's positive for the local community, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a huge 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.
A commemorative snap was taken by the squad to commemorate their win over their rivals. A different manager and a largely changed squad – but the club at Sunderland had a long memory. Almost 24 months prior, after a comprehensive Magpies victory at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the rivals marked the occasion with a team picture on the pitch. This time, the situation were flipped. Nick Woltemade's mistake proved decisive to deliver Sunderland a historic win over their rivals in the return of the Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to mimic Newcastle's post-match snapshot at full-time. “Consistently original, imaginative, versatile,” remarked Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when pressed about who suggested the photograph. Defender Dan Ballard, who conceded an own goal in that cup defeat, was the lone Sunderland player to be in the starting XI in both games. He revealed how he desperately wanted to avenge the loss, stating: “You cannot describe [the feeling]. It was agonizing for the players and for the fans. We felt we had let them down, so we're ecstatic with this win.” “It prepared us more for today. We came in with greater talent in this team, strong personalities, we stuck in there, fought really hard and I thought we earned the win.” Sunderland paid homage to this picture from Newcastle's cup win over the Black Cats. ‘Derbies you have to win, it does not matter how’ Sitting in seventh Sunderland are having a superb return to the top flight post promotion via the play-offs last season. The Black Cats have a tally of 26 points in 16 games, their most at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01. They are still unbeaten in the league at the Stadium of Light, which boasted an incredible atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon. “Derbies, you have to win, it does not matter how,” said captain Granit Xhaka. “This team is worthy of more respect – 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 best-ever streak 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 under pressure to deliver of our fans,” he continued. “This win is well deserved, we were mature and the lads were superb.” “It's positive for the local community, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a huge 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.