Sunderland v Newcastle – Derby day team news, stats and facts.

toonsy

Sunderland's Stadium of Light.
A busy day at Sunderland.
It’s a match that doesn’t really need any extra build up. All you need to say is: Sunderland v Newcastle.

An entire region will grind to a halt. Families will be split between alliegances of black and white or red and white. Friends become enemies. All of this, and more, is inspired by the deep-seated dislike of the other club.

Of course, if you want to add some extra spice where there really isn’t any needed, you could add on the sheer desperation that Sunderland have to inflict some form of revenge after they got smashed 5-1 at St James’ Park earlier in the season. I just hope that, whatever happens, those little doylums from down the road keep their sharpened coins in their pockets on this occasion and don’t embarrass North-East football with their behaviour again.

Moving on….

Nedum Onouha is fit to feature for the Black Cats after shaking off a hamstring problem. Lee Cattermole and Danny Welbeck could also return from injury ahead of schedule, although it’s unknown whether or not either player will be risked by Dame Steve Bruce.

Frazier Campbell, David Meyler, Michael Turner, Trevor Carson and John Mensah will all miss the match through injury.

Last time out Sunderland lost to another team with the nickname of The Magpies as they got dumped out of the FA Cup by Notts County, on their own patch aswell. Hopefully that will be a good omen for this match. Anyway, they played a strong team for that match, but it wasn’t a full strength team. For that we will have to look back to their last league match against Aston Villa where they lined up with a team of;

Sunderland: Craig Gordon, Phil Bardsley, Titus Bramble, Anton Ferdinand, Kieron Richardson, Ahmed Elmohamady, David Meyler, Jordan Henderson, Steed Malbranque, Darren Bent, Danny Welbeck.M

I expect that Dame Bruce will replace Meyler with Bolo Zenden and Danny Wellbeck with Ballon d’Or nominated striker 🙄 Asamoah Gyan.

Newcastle will welcome back Jonas Gutierrez, Jose Enrique and Shola Ameobi for the match at Sunderland. All three had missed the FA Cup defeat to Stevenage but will return to action against the Black Cats. Dan Gosling could also play some part in the fixture after proving his fitness in a behind-closed-doors friendly in midweek. A place on the bench is perhaps the most likely outcome though.

However, the return of those players doesn’t mask the amount of players that are unavailable to Newcastle for the short trip South. The biggest news is that Andy Carroll has been ruled out, closely followed by the fact that Cheik Tiote starts his three match suspension, although there is an argument to suggest that the loss of Cheik is the greatest miss. Steven Taylor is also ruled out whilst Sol Campbell is doubtful. Hatem Ben Arfa and Ryan Taylor remain injured.

Much like Sunderland, Newcastle named a stronger than expected team in their FA Cup tie last weekend, but they also fell foul to a lower league team. We do have a few faces returning though, which means that I would probably go with a team something like this;

Newcastle: Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Wayne Routledge, Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan, Jonas Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands.

Obviously you could change it and play Barton out wide with Guthrie in the middle, or Alan Smith in the middle, which is a big no-no in my book but will probably happen regardless. You could also switch Lovenkrands for Leon Best, or play five in midfield, or play with one striker with Kevin Nolan tucked in behind the main striker. Let us know what you think.

This will be the 132nd league meeting between the two clubs. Newcastle have clocked up 50 wins, compared to 41 for Sunderland. A victory for Newcastle would complete a league double over Sunderland for the first time in five seasons. Their last win at the Stadium of Light was a 4-1 (even Chopra scored) win back in April 2006.

Sunderland have lost only one home league game all season, but they have been beaten in two of their last three games at the Stadium of Light in all competitions.

Shola Ameobi has played ten times against Sunderland. He has only been on the losing side once and has scored four goals against the Mackems in his last three appearances.

All in all, it’s a local derby and form is said to go out of the window, but looking at the bigger picture I’d say that a draw would be a good result. Don’t get me wrong, I’d kill for a win, but a draw away at a team that has a good home record would be a good result in my opinion, and would also steal their thunder. They would have no bragging rights for that, no comeback, no nothing.

Howay the lads!

P.S. Remember the game is set for a 12:00pm kick-off here in the UK, so don’t forget!

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

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151 thoughts on “Sunderland v Newcastle – Derby day team news, stats and facts.”

  2. The only thing that will stop the bragging right is if they give us a proper tonking like we did to them. A 1-0 or 2-0/2-1 won’t do it. They are the favourites and the onus is on them.

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  8. The prospect of Smith starting tomorrow absolutely terrifies me, pay the guy up and release him. He offers nowt.

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  11. Definately starting to feel nervous now. Can’t see how anyone could predict how this one will go. First goal is going to be crucial. Could have been a different story at ours if they had put the ball in the net (and they really should have) first. My worry is we take 15/20 to get into it – as I have seen a few times already this season – and we get punished for it. I can see us sitting back and trying to calm the nerves and we will pay the price. We should have been a goal down at St. James’ yet we got out of jail and spanked them. If we do that tomorrow they won’t miss again! Joey needs to play in the middle to dictate the tempo, I just have no faith in Routledge on the right, this is our weakest area of the team.

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  13. LOL. Wayne Bridge just stood and watched Walcott square a ball to RVP there and Arsenal are 1-0 up. How’s that big money move working out for you West Ham!?

    ..In saying that, completly different kettle of fish if MO’N arrives.

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  18. 😆 😆

    Just glad I got it fixed before I headed our for the evening. It took concentration. My tongue was poking out and everything 😉

    All because I’m trying to get numbers on the comments 🙄

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  19. Anyone see the Faubert tackle on RVP that Andre Mariner deemed was a yellow card offence? Both feet off the floor, almost scissored his legs and didn’t win the ball, yellow card. The same man that showed Tiote red for a challenge where he did win the ball. To be fair, the ESPN commentary team immediatly pointed out how he showed Tiote red for the same tackle but the ball was won and couldn’t understand how Faubert was a yellow if that’s the case.

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  21. Starting to feel excited and nervous 🙂

    Game can go either way, IMO the team that shows up with passion, guts, desire and commitment and really want it will win it and hopefully that will be us 😈

    I would go for a

    ——————–Harper——————-

    Simo——–Williamson—-Colo—-Bull

    Barton–Gosling*/Guthrie—Nolan—Jonas

    ———–Best————Ameobi————

    Attack Attack Toon Attack Attack!!!

    Howay the lads!!!
    Do us proud! 😆 : 🙂

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  22. Trouble in Jan transfer window is that you’re held to ransom over average players, I’d almost hope we don’t bother with anyone than pay well over the odds for players like Keane

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  23. Ross – It’s one of them things mate, and it’s half the problem that the refs have to be honest. Consistenancy is a huge issue and the same refs make different decisions for similar outcomes week in week out.

    They are only human though and they have to react in seconds so I guess it’s bound to happen. Doesn’t make it right like but….

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  27. FSOTC-Don’t watch too much Bundesliga, I look for it on ESPN every now and again like but don’t see much. Spain is the league I see most besides the PL given the fact it’s on Sky regularly.

    Toonsy-Consistency for me, is the biggest issue, always has been. Even just from ground to ground let alone the decisions themselves. How many penalties have been given to a visiting team at Old Trafford? Yet Berbatov falls over his own feet and they’re pointing to the spot. That Faubert challenge by the book was a red. Both feet were off the floor, he lunged in and he didn’t win the ball. If that’s how Mariner see’s a red card (as Tiote would indicate) then he’s cocked up only giving a yellow.

    On a slightly brighter note, more fantastic Wayne Bridge defending and WH are 2-0 down. Walcott just jogged away from him in the box.

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  28. Alan Smith is a total liability! He’s a walking red card and offers nothing other than passion for me!

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  32. Agree Bobby, sadly. He’ll work his b@llocks off and loves a competitive battle, but his reputation, mixed with his poor tackling doesn’t help.
    Don’t even know if it’s his fault. He puts in a few great tackles from time to time but at the end of the day he’s a striker who was forced into a MF role. His lack of goals means he’s never going up top again and his dubious tackling means there’s always a chance he’s a liability in the center of the park.

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  34. FSOTC-I suppose the only thing we could do is start Best up top with Shola, drop Nolan back into the center of the pitch with Barton and play Jonas and Routledge out wide.

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  43. Haha, Wayne Bridge concedes a penalty. He’s been at fault for both goals and now gives away a pen. Hattrick of errors?

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  44. anyone watching the West Ham game?

    90k a wekk for Bridge eh? lol, he is having a mare! Just gave away a pen as well, 0-3

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  45. Surely Martin O’Neill has been promised cash by WH if he does come in and take the job? I can’t see him agreeing to try and get them out of trouble given the current crop of players they have

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  46. lol now he has been subbed, not a good advert for taking rusty Man City cast offs is it? SWP?? No thanks.

    Possibly the worst debut i’ve ever seen haha

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  47. Aye, West Ham are pretty awful like, carry on like this until the spring they will be in there like, no doubt.

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  50. What’s this doing the round on twatter about Routledge to QPR on loan?

    Where’s this come from, anyone know?

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  53. DAVE he will be looking for another mug to finish it off,always puts a shift in busking in toon on sat

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  55. DAVE said not to panic there will be another one at least in window,after benny,do think we have missed out on one this week,down to wages asked i would say

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  56. Ice I think your right we were talking to Larsson so it must have came down to wages, but I just have a feeling Larsson was useing us to get him a better deal at Brum. But maybe now they have Bentley he will be sorry 😀
    I do believe we will get atleast another 1 or maybe even 2 through the door before the window closes.

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  59. yes i belive he used us too,not to fussed about him like bit like r.taylor for me good at dead ball kicks end of

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  60. DAVE hope the scum sign him,they will come un-stuck like they did on the signing of that c/h killgallon thought he was poor at that time,couldnt get a game there, now oot on loan

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  61. Just read this: Newcastle have confirmed that star striker, Andy Carroll has failed in his bid to be fit for Newcastle’s match against Sunderland this weekend.

    The Daily Mail believes Carroll suffered an injury whilst out drinking with friends, and despite his best efforts, was unable to regain fitness for the tyne-wear derby.

    I always wondered when and how he was injured. Does anyone know anything about the truth (or not), in this?

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  63. JILL only crack on that was he fell off stool when pi@@ed on hols,thought it was joke me-sel maybe there was something in it

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  68. He apparently fell off the seat in Aspers Newcastle, as far as i’m aware. Sure thats what the article said. They claimed he was writhing around the floor in pain and his mates were laughing at him.
    Probably nonsense but then again how else did he get injured? lol

    Oh..and he ordered THIRTY JAGERBOMBS!…(for him and 15 mates.. 🙄 )

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  70. i really carnt see us gettin turned owa the morra like,the scum are ***** and have key players oot,we are only missing big andy and tiote..fk that lets all have positve vibed 😛

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  71. I think realistically we’re in for a tough game tomorrow. If it wasn’t Sunderland I think many would be saying we’d get beat.

    They have a great home record, have kept clean sheets in half their games and are in good form (in the league).

    Personally I think we’ll miss Tiote and Carroll more than they’ll miss Cattermole and Welbeck, so I think we could lose 2-0.

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  72. Ice do you think he will risk setting Gosling back mate he has been out for a hell of a long time. as im sure that c@nt Clattermole would love to get into him knowing he’s just back ❓

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