🔗 Share this article The Black Cats Recreate Famous Magpies Squad Picture Following Pivotal Derby Victory. A commemorative snap was taken by the squad to celebrate their success over their rivals. New leadership and an almost completely different team – but someone at Sunderland wasn't going to forget. Nearly two years ago, after a dominant Newcastle performance at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the Geordies marked the occasion with a team picture on the pitch. On this occasion, the roles were reversed. Nick Woltemade's mistake proved decisive to hand Sunderland a historic win over their rivals in the inaugural Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to stage their own version of Newcastle's iconic snapshot at full-time. “Consistently original, imaginative, versatile,” said with a grin Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when pressed about who proposed the idea. 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 disclosed how he desperately wanted to rectify the loss, stating: “Words can't express it. It was agonizing for the players and for the fans. We felt we had failed them, so we're overjoyed with this win.” “It prepared us more for today. We came in with greater talent in this team, real leaders, we stuck in there, fought really hard and I thought we earned the win.” Sunderland recreated this picture from Newcastle's cup win over the Black Cats. ‘Local clashes are must-wins, by any means necessary’ Occupying seventh spot 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 best return at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01. They are undefeated in the league at the Stadium of Light, which had an feverish atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon. “In local rivalry matches, the result is everything, the performance secondary,” 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 undefeated 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 over a decade ago. Manager Regis le Bris said he was “proud and happy” with the outcome. “It was a derby and we were expected [to win] 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 turn the page as we have another hard game in Brighton in one week.” The Sunderland scoreboard at Stadium of Light pointedly omitted Newcastle's name.
A commemorative snap was taken by the squad to celebrate their success over their rivals. New leadership and an almost completely different team – but someone at Sunderland wasn't going to forget. Nearly two years ago, after a dominant Newcastle performance at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the Geordies marked the occasion with a team picture on the pitch. On this occasion, the roles were reversed. Nick Woltemade's mistake proved decisive to hand Sunderland a historic win over their rivals in the inaugural Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to stage their own version of Newcastle's iconic snapshot at full-time. “Consistently original, imaginative, versatile,” said with a grin Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when pressed about who proposed the idea. 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 disclosed how he desperately wanted to rectify the loss, stating: “Words can't express it. It was agonizing for the players and for the fans. We felt we had failed them, so we're overjoyed with this win.” “It prepared us more for today. We came in with greater talent in this team, real leaders, we stuck in there, fought really hard and I thought we earned the win.” Sunderland recreated this picture from Newcastle's cup win over the Black Cats. ‘Local clashes are must-wins, by any means necessary’ Occupying seventh spot 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 best return at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01. They are undefeated in the league at the Stadium of Light, which had an feverish atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon. “In local rivalry matches, the result is everything, the performance secondary,” 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 undefeated 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 over a decade ago. Manager Regis le Bris said he was “proud and happy” with the outcome. “It was a derby and we were expected [to win] 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 turn the page as we have another hard game in Brighton in one week.” The Sunderland scoreboard at Stadium of Light pointedly omitted Newcastle's name.