Sunderland claimed local bragging rights with a 1-0 win at home to arch-rivals Newcastle United on Sunday.
A game of substance rather than style was decided just a minute into the second half as Nick Woltemade diverted Nordi Mukiele’s cross into the back of his own net, with a header that would have gone down as a superb finish off the crossbar had it been at the other end.
Newcastle huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser, but ultimately failed to truly test the Black Cats, who move up to seventh in the Premier League table — four points and five places ahead of the Magpies, who haven’t tasted victory in this derby in league play since August 2011 (10 games, 7L/3D).
Woltemade moment of madness settles Wear-Tyne derby
It was rather fitting that this match was decided by an own goal, with neither side really worrying the other’s defence.
There was a grand total of just three shots on target throughout the entire match and only 11 shots in total, while Sunderland found their mark with just one of 15 crosses and Newcastle only two of 25 — 7% and 8% respective success rates.
One of the very few moments of quality on the ball was Mukiele’s cross that forced Woltemade to do something, anything but what he actually did.
Perhaps Omar Alderete’s flailing jump at the ball — arms in the air and all — in front of him unsighted him. Or maybe he simply forgot which box he was in, because it was one hell of a finish. Either way, Woltemade disengaged reason for a moment and beat his own goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, all ends up.
The Sunderland fans then gave Woltemade a huge cheer in the 75th minute when he was replaced by Yoane Wissa, which will only add to his derby pain.
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Resolute Sunderland defence stands tall again
Of course, one of the main reasons why this game was so low on goalmouth action was the Herculean efforts of the Sunderland defence, and those camped just in front of it.
Goalkeeper Robin Roefs commanded his box brilliantly, gobbling up cross after Newcastle cross, and stopping a couple of stinging efforts by Bruno Guimaraes from distance when required.
And Regis Le Bris’ back four was almost flawless. From Dan Ballard winning 100% of his ground duels, to Alderete’s four clearances, nothing of a Tyneside persuasion got through, with the life strangled out of Eddie Howe’s attack. And that’s without mentioning the superb job Mukiele and Reinildo did on Anthonys Gordon and Elanga.
But the stars of the show, as they so often have been for Sunderland this season, were Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki.
The former showed class on the ball that few around him could match, creating one big chance and playing 14 passes into the final third, while controlling the tempo brilliantly — slowing things down when it all got a little too loud, and speeding it up when he felt Newcastle were vulnerable.
Next to Xhaka, Sadiki covered almost every blade of grass and won all but one of his five duels, while also making four recoveries, one tackle and two interceptions.
It’s a resolute defence that has fuelled Sunderland’s impressive start to life back in the Premier League, and it came up trumps again here in the biggest of occasions in the North East.
What next for Sunderland and Newcastle United?
While their supporters will bask in the glory of this result, Le Bris and his players will refocus quickly as they prepare to travel to Brighton next Saturday, with a home tie against Leeds United to follow in the Black Cats’ final game of 2025.
As for Newcastle, they’ll hope to lick their wounds quickly as they host Fulham in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup on Wednesday, continuing their defence of that particular title. Their 2025 Premier League schedule then concludes in challenging fashion at home to Chelsea, and then away at Manchester United and Burnley.