---
title: "Opposition View: Sunderland"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2015/10/23/opposition-qa-sunderland/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Chris Sparks"
section: "Matchday"
published: "2015-10-23T10:12:39Z"
modified: "2015-10-23T10:12:58Z"
---

# Opposition View: Sunderland

Greetings from [Read Sunderland!](https://readsunderland.com/) I’m Chris Sparks, and I am here to inform all you Geordies of what to expect when you make the short trip to the Stadium of Light for the first Tyne-Wear derby of the season this Sunday.

**Recently, you’ve had your fair share of good Derby moments, but what is your favourite all-time Derby moment?**

Personally, my favourite derby moment was the first win under Paolo Di Canio, the win was very unexpected and emphatic for a Sunderland side who for the majority of the season had been woeful.

****If you could place one Sunderland player from the past in your current team, who would it be and why?****

It has to be Kevin Phillips, one of the most natural goalscorers to grace the premier league and by far Sunderland’s best player in recent history. A fit and firing Kevin Phillips was like having an extra man on your team and I think he would be the one who would have made the difference on Sunday.

Potentially a controversial one – Would you take any Newcastle players at the Stadium of Light? If so, who and why?

Georgino Wijnaldum without a doubt. You have got a very good player on your hands in the Dutchman and I still scratch my head as to why Dick Advocaat did not try and sign him when the team is crying out for midfield creativity and a goal threat.

**Are there any rising stars at Sunderland that we should be keeping an eye on?**

Duncan Watmore and Jordan Pickford are both young Englishmen with huge potential. Watmore has produced the goods both for the England under-21s and Sunderland, whilst Pickford is having a superb season on loan at Preston North End.

![Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readnewcastle.com/readnewcastle/sites/20/2015/10/455551336.jpg)

**Who is your most important player(s)?**

We will never be a team that will score a lot of goals but in the past (apart from the entirety of this season), Sunderland have prided themselves on being a well-organised team who defend a lot. This makes Lee Cattermole and Yann M’Vila our main men. the midfield duo can both pick out a pass and time a tackle to perfection and will be vital on Sunday.

**What do you reckon will be the key battle on Sunday?**

Yann M’Vila and Georgino Wijnaldum. By far either clubs best players and they will be a lot of stamina needed by both men who will likely be in a box-to-box role.

**Your score prediction and expected line-up.**

Pantilimon, Jones, O’Shea, Kaboul, Yedlin, Lens, Cattermole, M’Vila, Borini, Defoe, Fletcher.

I think and hope that Sunderland will scrape this game. I don’t think it will be a great game for the neutral wth Sunderland stealing the win by one goal to nil.