Newcastle v Sunderland: Match Preview, Team News & Prediction

For the first time in a decade Newcastle play Sunderland at St James' Park with the Toon looking for our first win against the Mackem enemy in 10 League games.

It's a run Newcastle and us fans are desperate to break, not least because if Sunderland make it 11 without defeat it will become the longest unbeaten sequence by either side in this fixture's entire history.

Match Preview

I'm not going to repeat my 'must win' call and reasons that I gave in my last post.

Suffice to say that a defeat is unthinkable.

Eddie Howe and the Lads go into the game still smarting from a defensive horror show that turned a promising first half into the disaster of a 7-2 defeat at the Nou Camp.

Sunderland won't be bouncing up the A19 on their way to SJP either.

Their form has slumped with only 4pts taken from their last five games that has seen them drop to 13th in the table, 2pts behind Newcastle.

However, I don't expect any previous results to affect the attitude of both teams when the battle starts. Both are desperate for a win and I am also expecting a far more blood and thunder game than the handbags at the Stadium of Light.

That game, no one needs reminding, was won by a peach of a header by Woltemade - unfortunately it bore fruit for Sunderland who won 1-0 from Big Nick;s own goal.

How good would it be, for Woltemade, the team and us fans, if Big Nick stuck a couple in at the right end to help us beat Sunderland for the first time in 10 games.

If he does, I suspect it will be off the bench but in KK's words "I'd love it, just love it" if Woltemade came out of the doldrums and wiped the smile of the Mackem faces.

Team News

Newcastle: Tonali is a doubt but apart from that it is the same squad that was available for Barcelona.

Sunderland: Up to eight players may be unavailable including keeper Robin Roefs who has a hamstring injury.

Match Prediction

Nothing else but a win for the Toon.

Sunderland have hit the brick wall that many early season well performing promoted teams do, and have won just one of their last six PL games scoring just three goals.

They were also dumped out of the FA Cup by Port Vale who are bottom of Div One.

Also, bearing in mind that I've asked my granddaughter - who works as a full time nanny for Dan Ballard - to slip a tranquiliser into his morning coffee, and a win just has to be on the cards.

Seriously though, even without Tonali, if we put in anything like the first half attacking performance against Barcelona we should be able to take Sunderland to the cleaners.

Their shot and goal shy attacks won't cause the defensive mayhem - hopefully - that Barca did and with Sunderland in a poor run of form, and missing players, this is a great opportunity to record a good win and dim the memory of Wednesday night.

So... I'm sticking my neck out and my usual fiver is going on a 4-0 win.

If that bet comes up I'll be having a giraffe of champagne to celebrate.

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