Sunderland’s long wait for a Premier League Tyne-Wear derby ended in unforgettable fashion as the Black Cats not only beat Newcastle United, but did so with a moment of theatre that will live long in local folklore.
A scrappy contest at the Stadium of Light was settled by an own goal from Nick Woltemade, but the decisive strike was almost secondary to what followed. At full-time, Sunderland’s players and staff gathered on the pitch to recreate a photograph Newcastle had taken nearly two years earlier, after their 3-0 FA Cup victory over the Black Cats. This time, the roles were reversed, the smiles were red and white, and the message was unmistakable.
For Sunderland supporters, it was a symbolic reclaiming of pride. For Newcastle, it was a reminder that derby defeats carry scars far deeper than a single result.
The victory marked Sunderland’s first Premier League derby against their fiercest rivals since 2016, and the atmosphere crackled with tension long before kick-off. Every tackle was cheered, every misplaced pass jeered. The scoreboard even refused to name the opposition, listing Newcastle simply as “Visitors”, a small but pointed act that set the tone for the afternoon.
On the pitch, it was never a classic. Chances were scarce, space even scarcer, and both sides played with the anxiety such games inevitably bring. When Woltemade turned the ball into his own net, the stadium erupted, not in relief, but in raw, cathartic joy. Sunderland defended doggedly thereafter, throwing bodies in front of shots and feeding off the crowd’s energy until the final whistle confirmed a famous win.
Black Cats manager Régis Le Bris, smiling knowingly afterwards, was coy about who suggested the post-match photo. “Always unpredictable, creative, adaptive,” he said, neatly capturing the spirit of a club enjoying its moment.
For defender Dan Ballard, the occasion carried extra weight. He was the only Sunderland player to start both this match and the painful FA Cup defeat in 2024, when Newcastle’s celebratory photo had stung deeply. This time, redemption was complete.
“You cannot describe the feeling,” Ballard said. “It was so painful losing to Newcastle, for the players and for the fans. We felt we had let them down. Today, we wanted to put that right, and we did.”
Sunderland’s captain, Granit Xhaka, summed up the ruthless simplicity of derby football. “Derbies, you have to win. It does not matter how,” he said. Few in red and white would argue.
Beyond the emotion, the result underlined Sunderland’s impressive return to the top flight. Seventh in the table with 26 points from 16 games, they are matching their best Premier League start since the 2000–01 season. Unbeaten at home, organised, resilient and increasingly confident, Le Bris’ side are earning respect well beyond Wearside.
Perhaps most remarkable is their record against Newcastle. Sunderland are now unbeaten in their last 10 league meetings with the Magpies, stretching back to 2011. In a rivalry often defined by momentum swings, this sustained dominance will sting particularly hard across the Tyne.
Le Bris was keen to strike a note of balance after the celebrations. “It was a special game and we knew what it meant,” he said. “But we have to reset quickly. There are more challenges ahead.”
That may be true, but for one night at least, Sunderland allowed themselves to revel in the moment. By recreating a photograph that once mocked their pain, they turned memory into motivation and victory into symbolism.
In derby football, bragging rights matter. On this occasion, Sunderland claimed them with a goal, a gesture, and a grin that Newcastle will not forget in a hurry.
