Why Brian Brobbey is starting to show his best form for Sunderland
Sunderland will host the Wear-Tyne derby at the Stadium of Light in December
Sunderland and Newcastle United have revised their allocations for away supporters for both derby fixtures this season, it has been revealed.
Newcastle United on Monday confirmed the sale process for their fans intending to travel to the Stadium of Light for the first derby of the campaign, which will take place on Sunday December 14th (2pm kick off).
The club confirmed that there will be 2,528 tickets on sale, which is slightly lower than the usual allocation on offer to visiting clubs. This is after both clubs agreed a reduction following a safety review from Newcastle United ahead of the second derby of the campaign in March.
A statement on the Newcastle United website reads: "Newcastle United and Sunderland AFC have agreed to match away support allocations ahead of this season’s Tyne-Wear derbies.
"Given the high-profile nature of the match, Newcastle United conducted a detailed safety assessment which concluded that balcony seating should be closed in the away section of the Leazes Stand for the fixture at St. James' Park in March. This measure, intended to support effective segregation and enhance fan safety, reduces the away allocation from 3,200 to 2,528.
"Sunderland AFC has opted to match the revised away allocation for Newcastle United supporters attending the fixture at the Stadium of Light in December."
Newcastle's statement also confirms that the derby will not be a 'bubble' fixture this season. While they are encouraging their supporters to take advantage of an official coach service to get to the game, it is not mandatory.
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Brian Brobbey reacts to his first Sunderland goal against Arsenal
Brian Brobbey said he had “never heard anything like” the noise inside the Stadium of Light after his dramatic 94th-minute equaliser rescued a point for Sunderland against Premier League leaders Arsenal.
The striker came off the bench to convert Dan Ballard’s flick-on deep into stoppage time, extending the Black Cats’ remarkable run of late goals and once again living up to the club’s now-iconic motto. Brobbey admitted he had already been fully briefed on Sunderland’s Til The End mentality before arriving on Wearside – but Saturday night was the first time he truly felt the full force of it.
“Oh, I know about the motto here, ‘till the end!’ Everybody always pushes till the end!” he said after the game to the Premier League. “Granit said to everyone in the last 10 minutes that we need to keep pushing and we could get something.”
When the chance arrived, he was exactly where Sunderland needed him to be. “It was a good header from Dan, and I was just in the right spot,” Brobbey continued. “So many emotions – I was waiting for this goal and I finally got it, so I’m so happy. Never heard anything like that noise in my career when I scored!”
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