Sunderland Mimic Iconic Magpies Squad Picture In the Wake of Pivotal Derby Triumph.
A different manager and an almost completely different team â but the club at Sunderland had a long memory.
Nearly two years ago, after a comprehensive Magpies victory at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the Geordies celebrated with a full squad photograph on the pitch.
This time, the situation were turned on their head.
Nick Woltemade's unfortunate deflection proved enough to deliver Sunderland a historic win over their rivals in the first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 â prompting the hosts to stage their own version of Newcastle's celebratory snapshot at full-time.
âConsistently original, imaginative, versatile,â remarked Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when asked about who came up with the idea.
Defender Dan Ballard, who was unfortunate to score an own goal in that previous encounter, was the only Sunderland player to feature from the beginning in both games.
He explained how he was eager to rectify the loss, stating: âIt's indescribable. It was agonizing for the players and for the fans. We felt we had let them down, so we're overjoyed with this win.â
âIt served as motivation. We came in with greater talent in this team, true characters, we stuck in there, fought really hard and I thought we merited the win.â
âRivalry games demand victory, regardless of the performanceâ
Seventh-placed Sunderland are experiencing a superb return to the top flight following promotion via the play-offs last season.
The Black Cats have 26 points in 16 games, their most at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01.
They are undefeated in the league at the Stadium of Light, which was filled with an electric atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon.
âThese games are all about the victory, by hook or by crook,â said captain Granit Xhaka. âThis team is worthy of more respect â where we are in the league is remarkable and we're working really hard.â
Sunderland are also unbeaten 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 all the way back in 2011.
Manager Regis le Bris said he was âextremely pleasedâ with the result.
âIt was a derby and we were expected [to win] of our fans,â he stated. âThis win is rightfully earned, we were composed and the lads were superb.â
âIt's fantastic for the area, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a unique game, but we have to turn the page as we have another tough challenge in Brighton in one week.â
