**Newcastle 1 Sunderland 2 – Sunday 22 March 2026 12pm**
Instant fan/writer reaction from some of our regular contributors on The Mag.
**Nat Seaton:**
_‘Our 51st game of the season (against a team playing their 35th…) unravelled in the second half to an agonising derby day defeat._
_I get that we are fatigued but only four outfield players were on the whole game, our subs with their energy do not seem to be able to impact as needed, this could be because of the personnel coming on compared to earlier in the season before injuries had an impact._
_Absolutely gutted and no game for three weeks to turn things around._
_Players to come back for the next game at Palace and we need them to hopefully kickstart a decent end to this exhausting season.’_
**Simon Ritter:**
_‘Outmuscled for the second time this season by Sunderland._
_We were the better team in the first half, though the warning signs were there before the interval._
_Once they equalised, United huffed and puffed without severely testing the keeper again._
_The Mackems were not more skilful than us but found the energy in the last quarter to get the winner._
_Eyebrows were raised by our starting line-up but the changes didn’t improve our play, apart from Thiaw for Botman._
_Ramsey my man of the match. Nearly every other man in black and white was below par.’_
**Billy Miller:**
_‘Rubbish team beats more rubbish team in rubbish game._
_Didn’t look up for it._
_Couldn’t string passes together._
_Shipped shocking goals._
_It should be a good thing we didn’t get any bookings but to me it was just indicative of our lack of fight.’_
**Tony Mallabar:**
_‘I am physically shaking with rage after that._
_Eddie Howe needs to be gone before Man City/Arsenal lift the league cup tonight._
_Nick Woltemade needs never to pull on a black and white shirt again._
_Whoever sanctioned our summer transfer policy needs sacking as well._
_Lewis Hall had his worst game in a black and white shirt._
_Brobbery totally dominated our central defence._
_Our fans created a fantastic atmosphere, only to have it shoved down our throats with a display so spineless._
_Worst capitulation I’ve ever seen in my 48 years supporting Newcastle United.’_
**David Punton:**
_‘An absolute disaster for the manager._
_This one is firmly on him, in my view._
_The way we threw this game away was nothing short of criminal._
_A terrible result that heaps misery on the fans and gives our near neighbours the bragging rights._
_No excuse about absent players or fatigue wash with this one._
_Today’s opponents have been all the way to league one and back and have just done the double over us._
_Totally unacceptable.’_
**Matt Busby said…:**
_‘That was awful._
_Even the benefit of an early goal didn’t calm the nerves and we paid the price for getting dragged down to the level of a team that didn’t seem remotely interested in winning that game until we gifted it to them._
_The clown behind me joining in with the Mackems’ chorus of ‘sacked in the morning’ directed at our manager needs to be sectioned in my opinion._
_Three weeks off. Let’s regroup and see if we can pull our socks up for the run in.’_
**Newcastle 1 Sunderland 2 – Sunday 22 March 2026 12pm**
**Match Stats**
**Goals:**
**Newcastle United****:**
Gordon 10
**Sunderland:**
Talbi 57, Brobbey 90
**Possession** was Newcastle 60% Sunderland 40%
**Total shots** were Newcastle 16 Sunderland 17
**Shots on target** were Newcastle 4 Sunderland 7
**Corners** were Newcastle 9 Sunderland 5
**Touches in the opposition box** Newcastle 22 Sunderland 29
**Newcastle team v Sunderland:**
Ramsdale, Trippier (Livramento 65), Botman (Thiaw 54), Burn, Hall, Ramsey, Joelinton, Woltemade (Willock 65), Elanga (Jacob Murphy 65), Gordon (Wissa 89), Barnes (Osula 76)
**Unused subs:**
Pope, Alex Murphy, Neave