I don’t get to say this very often about Sunderland, but they are on a winning streak… of sorts. The last five encounters against rivals, Newcastle, have resulted in five victories (0-3, 2-1, 0-3, 0-1, 1-0), with Sunderland scoring 10 goals and Newcastle scoring just the one. The clubs meet again this Sunday; can Sunderland keep the streak alive?
Sunderland vs. Newcastle: Can Sunderland Make it Six in a Row?
Sunderland once again have a new manager, this time in Sam Allardyce. New managers seem to be a good omen for Sunderland going into the derby fixture over recent years. Paolo Di Canio lost his first game in charge but was victorious in his second, where Sunderland played Newcastle at St James’ Park, beating them 0-3. Gus Poyet oversaw three victories against the Magpies. He, too, lost his first game in charge of Sunderland but beat the Magpies 2-1 in his second fixture. Dick Advocaat was the next man at the helm, and, like Poyet and Di Canio before him, he also lost his first but beat Newcastle in his second. After losing his debut match as their fearless leader last weekend against West Bromwich Albion, new Sunderland manager, Sam Allardyce, will have pressure on him to keep the sequence alive.
Although Sunderland were defeated in Big Sam’s first game in charge, Sunderland were not disgraced and Allardyce has taken positives from the game. “I thought we defended very well, which in the past, before I came here, was the biggest weakness in the team.
“I thought we didn’t look like conceding a goal,” Allardyce continued. “But unfortunately in the second half we’ve had a very valuable point taken away from us. I thought we deserved to take a point away from the game today. It is a disappointing result but there’s plenty to build on.” (via safc.com).
Having played for Sunderland and been a part of their coaching staff for a short spell, Allardyce will know all about this derby and what it means to the club and its supporters. Let’s not forget he also had a short and unhappy stay as the manager of Newcastle several years ago. Looking ahead to this weekend’s match, Allardyce had this to say, “I’ve got to look after the reputation of Sunderland. The pressure’s on me, more than it’s on Steve (McClaren). We’ve won the last five, so I don’t want to be the one who doesn’t win it.” He added, “They have been struggling, but won the last five games against Newcastle, they don’t need me to coach them this week!” (via The Sunderland Echo).
Sunderland will have confidence going into the game from the previous five victories and, as Allardyce mentioned, the team should not need much coaching going into a game like this. Allardyce will also be wanting to ‘get one over’ his old club and earn his first victory as Sunderland manager in front of a capacity crowd at the Stadium of Light. However, even though confidence can be drawn from certain quarters, Sunderland are yet to register a league win so far this season and that could well play on the minds of both players and supporters. If there was ever a game to get their season underway, this is certainly it.
Newcastle will also take confidence going into this game after they managed their first victory of the season against Norwich City last weekend. Even though Newcastle scored six, they conceded two and McClaren still has concerns: “The game was wide open. It could have finished 8-8 but this is a lesson for everyone connected with the club.”
The pressure will be on manager Steve McClaren to keep the momentum gained and to stop Sunderland’s winning streak. Easier said than done, though; especially as Newcastle players, staff and club will be all too aware of the dreadful run they are on in derbies against Sunderland. Newcastle will also be fully aware that Sunderland tend to turn up for this game more than any other, something which cannot be said about their rivals of late. Also, any kind of current form means very little, so any Newcastle player or supporter predicting an easy victory on the back of their first league win will best keeping it to themselves.
Newcastle will be without their first choice goalkeeper, Tim Krul. Rob Elliot has been given the keeper’s jersey and, after conceding two against Norwich, nerves could play a part in this massive Wear-Tyne derby. At the other end of the field, Sunderland will have to keep a close eye on the likes of Newcastle’s summer signings, Georginio Wijnaldum, who scored four last weekend, and Aleksandar Mitrović, who also netted against Norwich.
Sunderland could welcome back winger/forward, Jeremain Lens, and defender, Sebastian Coates, who served suspensions last weekend. Swedish International, Ola Toivonen, who missed the last game through injury, could also be available. With the return of this trio, Sam Allardyce could have a welcome headache come team selection time.
Both teams brought in several new players during the summer, however, there is still experience in both squads of this fixture. Take Fabio Borini, for example; before he signed permanently this season, he had a loan spell at the Stadium of Light during the 2013/14 season. During this period, he scored twice against the Magpies. Adam Johnson, if he plays a part in this game, has scored several important goals in the derby, however, these goals have tended to be at St. James’ Park. The likes of Lee Cattermole, John O’Shea and Steven Fletcher could be classed as derby veterans now.
Younès Kaboul, even though this will be his first taste of a Wear-Tyne derby, has plenty of experience in fixtures such as the North London derby; as has Jermain Defoe, who, during his first taste of a game against Newcastle, scored a Goal of the Month contender to win the game for Sunderland. Newcastle have the likes of Jack Colback, Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini, who all have a wealth of experience in this fixture. Colback played for Sunderland during their first three wins of this current streak, scoring in one before he switched sides in the summer of 2014.
Can Sunderland make it six in a row against their fierce rivals, Newcastle? Of course they can.
Sunderland have proven many times that they can lift themselves for this game no matter what position they have been in the league, or what kind of form they possess leading up to the game. They will take confidence from the previous five meetings and also, even though they have yet to record a win this season in the league, they have shown at times that they can play strong, attacking football, and cause teams problems. They have a new man in charge and that usually means a victory against Newcastle, although very few Sunderland fans will be thinking that this game is already won. This is a Premier League fixture after all; easy games can be thin on the ground.
Newcastle will be hoping they have turned a corner after their victory over Norwich, however, nothing is guaranteed in a game like this; the unexpected can happen and has before. It’s not a game for the faint hearted; whether you’re in the stands, watching on TV or out on the pitch.
Newcastle will want to stop the streak; Sunderland will want to extend it even further and, more importantly, get their first three points of the season on the board. In the past few years, Sunderland have kept their best for this fixture; this must change. They must produce their best in this fixture and many others going forward.
A close, hard fought and passionate game should be expected. Sunderland supporters will be giving their all in the stands and have everything crossed that the players give their all on the pitch in return. Fans will be praying that they can finally they can get their season underway – and what a way it would be.
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