🔗 Share this article The Black Cats Stage Famous Magpies Team Photo After Crucial Derby Triumph. The team gathered for a celebratory photograph to mark their success over their local foes. A different manager and a vastly altered lineup – but the club at Sunderland remembered vividly. Back in 2024, after a dominant Newcastle performance at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the visitors marked the occasion with a full squad photograph on the pitch. Now, the roles were flipped. Nick Woltemade's own goal proved decisive to deliver Sunderland a memorable win over their rivals in the first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to mimic Newcastle's post-match snapshot at full-time. “Always unpredictable, creative, adaptive,” remarked Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when pressed about who proposed the gesture. Defender Dan Ballard, who scored an own goal in that 2024 FA Cup tie, was the sole Sunderland player to feature from the beginning in each of the games. He disclosed how he was determined to rectify the loss, stating: “Words can't express it. It was so painful for the players and for the fans. We felt we had let them down, so we're overjoyed with this win.” “That experience hardened us. We came in with more quality in this team, strong personalities, we stuck in there, fought really hard and I thought we merited the win.” Sunderland deliberately echoed this picture from Newcastle's previous triumph over the Black Cats. ‘Derbies you have to win, it does not matter how’ 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 26 points on the board in 16 games, their best return at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01. They are yet to lose 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 remarkable 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 over a decade ago. Manager Regis le Bris said he was “proud and happy” with the result. “It was a derby and we were under pressure to deliver of our fans,” he continued. “This win is fully merited, we were composed and the lads were outstanding.” “It's positive for the area, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a special game, but we have to reset quickly as we have another difficult test in Brighton in one week.” The Sunderland scoreboard at Stadium of Light chose not to show Newcastle's name.
The team gathered for a celebratory photograph to mark their success over their local foes. A different manager and a vastly altered lineup – but the club at Sunderland remembered vividly. Back in 2024, after a dominant Newcastle performance at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the visitors marked the occasion with a full squad photograph on the pitch. Now, the roles were flipped. Nick Woltemade's own goal proved decisive to deliver Sunderland a memorable win over their rivals in the first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to mimic Newcastle's post-match snapshot at full-time. “Always unpredictable, creative, adaptive,” remarked Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when pressed about who proposed the gesture. Defender Dan Ballard, who scored an own goal in that 2024 FA Cup tie, was the sole Sunderland player to feature from the beginning in each of the games. He disclosed how he was determined to rectify the loss, stating: “Words can't express it. It was so painful for the players and for the fans. We felt we had let them down, so we're overjoyed with this win.” “That experience hardened us. We came in with more quality in this team, strong personalities, we stuck in there, fought really hard and I thought we merited the win.” Sunderland deliberately echoed this picture from Newcastle's previous triumph over the Black Cats. ‘Derbies you have to win, it does not matter how’ 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 26 points on the board in 16 games, their best return at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01. They are yet to lose 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 remarkable 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 over a decade ago. Manager Regis le Bris said he was “proud and happy” with the result. “It was a derby and we were under pressure to deliver of our fans,” he continued. “This win is fully merited, we were composed and the lads were outstanding.” “It's positive for the area, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a special game, but we have to reset quickly as we have another difficult test in Brighton in one week.” The Sunderland scoreboard at Stadium of Light chose not to show Newcastle's name.