Newcastle United face Sunderland this weekend in their first home derby for more than ten years. What’s even more interesting is that the Tyne-Wear rivals are tied in the all-time head-to-head records.
The Magpies host the Black Cats, with both eager to secure bragging rights. But they are also looking to end the season on a high, especially Eddie Howe’s men, who crashed out of the Champions League midweek.
Sunday’s game will be the 159th competitive clash between the sides, with both teams recording 54 victories each. Ahead of the latest meeting of the two eternal rivals, we look at five memorable Newcastle vs Sunderland games.
5. Newcastle 1-2 Sunderland, 1999.
Ruud Gullit made the perplexing decision to bench both Duncan Ferguson and Alan Shearer for this one. With rain lashing Tyneside that night, his Shearer-less Newcastle actually took the lead through Kieron Dyer.
But after the break, newly-promoted Sunderland drew level through Niall Quinn. His strike partner, Kevin Phillips, then went on to score one of the all-time great Tyne & Wear derby goals.
After his initial shot was saved by stand-in keeper Tommy Wright, Phillips collected the rebound before spinning and clipping a beautiful chipped shot over Wright, to leave Sunderland fans singing in the rain.
The goal won the game for Sunderland and ultimately cost Gullit his job.
The Dutchman was sacked just a few days later, but not before he’d had an earful from Shearer AND Ferguson.
4. Newcastle 3-2 Sunderland, 2005.
This game may well be the most famous derby in recent memory, in terms of pure football and entertainment.
Sunderland, again newly promoted, travelled to St James’ Park early in the season, in a game that saw a flurry of first-half goals.
Newcastle took the lead through Shola Ameobi, who scored the first of what would go on to be seven goals in twelve games against The Black Cats. They don’t call him ‘Mackem Slayer’ for nothing.
The visitors equalised just a minute later through Liam Lawrence, but Ameobi restored the Newcastle lead two minutes after that.
Sunderland were level again soon after, through Steven Elliot, whose 41st-minute equaliser capped off four goals in a crazy seven-minute period.
But the pick of the goals came in the 63rd minute, as Newcastle’s Turkish midfield creator, Emre, curled home a beautiful free kick from 25 yards to give all three points to The Magpies.
3. Newcastle 0-3 Sunderland, 2013.
Up until this game, Sunderland had only recorded one derby win in thirteen years, and their last success at St James’ Park came way back in November 2000. So when they travelled to Tynside in April 2013, recent history was very much against them.
Newcastle, who had finished fifth the previous season, found themselves languishing in the lower reaches of mid-table, and were soon made to pay. The Wearsiders hit three spectacular long-range strikes that afternoon, with David Vaughan saving the best ’til last with a gorgeous left-footed effort.
Before the game, Sunderland made headlines for the controversial appointment of Paolo Di Canio, and this game would forever be remembered by the Italian manager’s ‘knee slide’ celebration on the touchline.
2. Sunderland 1-4 Newcastle, 2006.
Newcastle were trailing their rivals 1-0 when substitute Michael Chopra made his way onto the field at the Stadium of Light. Fifteen seconds later, the Newcastle striker had drawn his side level.
One minute later, the Magpies were winning 2-1. After Charles N’Zogbia was bundled to the ground, the referee awarded a penalty, and up stepped Alan Shearer.
Already due to retire at the end of that season, few could have guessed the significance of the moment Shearer approached the penalty spot. Just two minutes later, the Geordie icon lay stricken, holding his left knee following a clash with Julio Arca.
Shearer was substituted immediately and never played football again. His last touch of a ball was to power the penalty past Kelvin Davis to put his boyhood club 2-1 up.
Newcastle went on to win the game 4-1, with goals from Charles N’Zogbia and Albert Luque. This match was the highlight of Glenn Roeder’s run as Newcastle manager.
1. Newcastle 5-1 Sunderland, 2010.
Quite simply, the greatest derby performance from either side in living memory. On Halloween night 2010, Newcastle gave Sunderland the fright of their life.
Captain Kevin Nolan got proceedings underway with a clever backheeled finish. He added a second after latching onto a mishit Andy Caroll shot.
Mackem Slayer Ameobi made it three just before half-time, converting a penalty. After the break, things went from bad to worse for the Wearside outfit.
Former Newcastle defender Titus Bramble took out a maurauding Andy Carroll, earning him a straight red card. With the Mackems down to ten men, Ameobi added a second.
Kevin Nolan collected the match ball, completing his hat-trick in the 79th minute. Nolan’s derby-day treble and his ‘funky chicken’ celebration earned him cult-hero status on Tyneside.
Sunderland did pull one back in the 90th minute, through Darren Bent, a goal that was sarcastically applauded by the home crowd.
