Newcastle and Sunderland’s chances of staying up after a share of the spoils in Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby are in serious trouble, according to Don Hutchinson of the Chronicle. The game was everything he expected it to be – fast, frantic and fearless. Sunderland probably did edge the match over 90 minutes but Newcastle will be happier with the point.
If everyone thought that was a big game then the game at Carrow Road is even bigger, Rafa and the players need to go there and get a result if we have any hope of staying up. Both Newcastle and Sunderland going down would be ‘scandalous’ according to Don and he’s right – two clubs with great support and great stadiums to fill.
Don struggles to understand why Newcastle haven’t persisted with a formation that accommodates two strikers and he believes getting crosses into the box, through the pace of Townsend and Sissoko, will hopefully produce more goals for Mitrovic. A partnership between Mitrovic and Cisse is worth trying in his opinion within a 4-4-2 formation, also hoping a returning Cheick Tiote will add cover to the defensive line.
Where do you think Newcastle and Sunderland will finish this season?
