Eddie Howe's Magpies are determined to avenge the 1-0 Stadium of Light defeat
Aleksandar Mitrovic scores the equalising goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park on March 20, 2016
Aleksandar Mitrovic was on target for Newcastle United when they drew 1-1 with Sunderland in March, 2016
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Tyne-Wear derby March madness on Sunday? Don’t bet on it If any fans expect some March madness in Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby – in the form of a heavy win either way – history disagrees with them.
Instead, the lesson from the past when it comes to matches between Newcastle United and Sunderland at this time of year is to expect a diplomatic, rather than dramatic, result this weekend.
And if you’re looking for a “correct score” bet, a look back in time screams one result as we look forward to Sunday: 1-1.
No less than seven of the 13 North East league derbies played in the month of March since the end of World War II have ended in a draw.
And the recent past points more strongly to a stalemate on Sunday, with both the last two March derbies – in 2012 and 2016 – ending 1-1.
In all, four of the five most recent Tyne-Wear meetings played in this month of the year have delivered a goal and a point apiece.
The overall post-war league derby record stands at four Newcastle wins, seven draws and two Sunderland victories.
The first March derby after the war was in 1949, when Newcastle won 2-1 at St James’ Park with goals from Jackie Milburn and George Robledo. Ronnie Turnbull replied for Sunderland.
The next March meeting was in front of a derby record 68,000 crowd at Roker Park in 1950, when Len Shackleton and Ivor Broadis scored for Sunderland, cancelling out goals from Frank Houghton and Ernie Taylor for Newcastle.
The biggest victory recorded in a post-war March derby came in 1967, when Bobby Kerr’s brace and one from George Mulhall saw Sunderland win 3-0 at Roker – and push Newcastle closer to relegation from the old First Division.
There was a 22-year gap between March league derbies from the 1-1 draw at Roker Park in 1970 to Newcastle’s 1-0 win in torrential rain at St James’ Park in 1992.
Tyne-Wear post-war March league derby results
March 2016 – Premier League: Newcastle United 1-1 Sunderland
March 2012 – Premier League: Newcastle United 1-1 Sunderland
March 1992 – League Division Two: Newcastle United 1-0 Sunderland
March 1970 – League Division One: Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle United
March 1969 – League Division One: Newcastle United 1-1 Sunderland
March 1967 – League Division One: Sunderland 3-0 Newcastle United
March 1966 – League Division One: Newcastle United 2-0 Sunderland
March 1964 – League Division Two: Newcastle United 1-0 Sunderland
March 1963 – League Division Two: Sunderland 0-0 Newcastle United
March 1951 – League Division One: Sunderland 2-1 Newcastle
March 1951 – League Division One: Newcastle United 2-2 Sunderland
March 1950 – League Division One: Sunderland 2-2 Newcastle United
March 1949 – League Division One: Newcastle United 2-1 Sunderland
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