Sunderland come to St James’ Park on Sunday for the Premier League clash against Newcastle United, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off is at 12pm.
After crashing out of the Champions League on Wednesday, all that’s left for Newcastle now is improving their league position and hopefully forcing their way back into the European qualification mix.
Newcastle have to pick themselves up after such a heavy defeat in Spain, but we feel that a derby clash could be the perfect game to follow up such a bitter blow, as it’s the kind of game that will generate an intense atmosphere that should instantly pick the lads up the second they step onto the hallowed turf.
Sunderland will be hoping to halt their slide as their early-season form has fallen off dramatically of late, and they now go into this game two points behind Newcastle.
Paul Merson has made his score prediction for Sportskeeda, and in doing so, hit the nail on the head when it comes to one of Newcastle’s biggest issues this season.
He highlights how little Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali have all been fit at the same time, and believes our £124m striking duo of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa look a “long way off” filling the Alexander Isak void.
Nevertheless, he’s still backing Newcastle to get the job done, feeling Sunderland are no longer the same force they were earlier in the season.
“I tell you what, up to the last minute of the first half against Barcelona at Camp Nou, Newcastle were really good. And to get blown away like that in the second half, it was like they ran out of legs!
“To be fair, Newcastle were really good in three out of four halves against Barcelona across the two legs. Even though the aggregate score reads 8-3, they were much better than Chelsea who lost 8-2 to PSG.
“Eddie Howe is a top manager. I don’t think Newcastle can do any better than him at the moment. They should stick with him.
“The main problem for Newcastle has been their midfield three not being available together for the most of the season. Obviously, summer signings Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa have been a long way off replacing Alexander Isak as well.
“I was not on board with the move for Wissa from the beginning. To spend that amount of money on a player based on just one season, I couldn’t see how it made sense.
“Sunderland are nowhere near the team they were at the start of the season. So if I had to pick a team to win the derby this weekend, it will be Newcastle.
“Prediction: Newcastle United 2-0 Sunderland”
We’ve already said that we’d happily take a one-nil win and a shoddy performance as it’s more about points than prestige from now until the end of the season, so a comfortable 2-0 win would be even better, as Merson predicts.
If Newcastle can play like they did against Barcelona in three of the four periods of the Champions League tie, then Sunderland could be in for a really bad day at the office.
If the Newcastle that played in the second half at the Camp Nou on Wednesday turn up, then God help us. Although let’s be honest, even if they do, Sunderland are not Barcelona!