Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris has already masterminded a win over the club's arch-rivals, and now he hopes to inflict more pain on Newcastle United just days after their Barcelona drubbing
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has already beaten Newcastle United this season.
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"During the first half, tactically it was really good, just small details about the shape, then it was a question of being more clinical in the final third. We had good control and sometimes were more patient. It was a good level of maturity, so happy for the lads, and it is good for our fans."
They were the words of Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris after the win over Newcastle United back in December at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats picked up a huge three points in their quest for survival, but more importantly, the bragging rights over their arch-rivals.
This weekend they'll do it all over again. The last meeting between the two sides was far from a classic - two teams locked in a nervy battle to try and find the upper-hand.
It certainly wasn't a game for the purists with a combined xG of just 0.54 - 0.30 to 0.24 in favour of Sunderland. Those watching on saw just three shots on target and 11 shots in the entire game.
Le Bris has rarely strayed away from the blueprint that has served his side so well all season and a low to mid-block against Newcastle would be the perfect tonic to quieten Newcastle's lively forward line.
Of course, a lot has changed in the few months since Sunderland's win. Both sides have been hampered with injuries to key players and Le Bris will have to decide whether or not to risk the likes of Robin Roefs, Reinildo, Nordi Mukiele and Dan Ballard in what's their biggest game left of the season.
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris(Image: Getty Images)
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There's a slim chance they could still be in with a shout of European football, but recent performances suggest that's somewhat of a pipe dream. That won't take anything away from an otherwise brilliant return to the top-flight, having been the favourites to go down at the start of the season.
If Le Bris is able to welcome back the likes of Mukiele and Ballard into the starting XI for the weekend, it'll be a major boost to their hopes of securing a double over their arch-rivals.
Sitting back at St. James' Park and hitting the Magpies on the counter is almost feeding into Sunderland's strengths, though Le Bris has mixed things up throughout the campaign.
During periods in games the Black Cats boss has opted to go man-for-man and press his opponents high, winning the ball back in dangerous areas of the pitch.
Newcastle themselves like to operate in such a fashion - but that comes with high risk, albeit high reward. Eddie Howe's men were on the receiving end of a thrashing in midweek at the Nou Camp with Barcelona's technical players running riot and dragging the Magpies' defence all over the pitch.
Of course, Sunderland aren't at the level of Hansi Flick's side, but they do have the technical players that can cause real damage. If Enzo Le Fee is deemed fit to play - he's a prime example - while Chris Rigg enjoyed one of his best performances of the season in the defeat to Brighton.
Newcastle will be a wounded animal after defeat at the Nou Camp and have a major point to prove after losing at the Stadium of Light, but Sunderland will be quietly confident.