Sunderland players react on social media after dramatic derby win as Granit Xhaka leads messages to supporters
Sunderland’s players took to social media in the hours after their dramatic Tyne-Wear derby win - and the tone was clear across the squad. From images of celebrations in front of the away end to messages directed at supporters, the posts reflected both the significance of the result and the emotion of the occasion following a comeback victory at St James’ Park.
There was a strong theme of gratitude towards the travelling fans. Goalkeeper Melker Ellborg shared a picture of the jubilant away section, writing: “Massive win today! Thanks for the support,” with red and white hearts accompanying the message. Omar Alderete, another key figure in the turnaround, posted a celebratory image from the game with the caption “+3”, also followed by red and white hearts and a clenched fist - a nod to both the points secured and the fight shown by the team.
Lutsharel Geertruida’s post carried a more pointed edge. Sharing an image from inside St James’ Park, he wrote: “Fair to say, Tyne and Wear is…” followed by red and white symbols - a clear reference to Sunderland’s dominance in the fixture. That dominance is underlined by the recent record. Sunderland are now unbeaten in their last 11 league games against Newcastle United, with the Magpies still without a home league win in this fixture since 2010 and without a league victory over their rivals since 2011.
It was a result built on a second-half display full of character after falling behind early, with Chemsdine Talbi making history in the process. At 20 years and 317 days old, he became the youngest Sunderland player to score against Newcastle in the Premier League. As the reaction continued to pour in, Granit Xhaka also shared his thoughts on the result. The midfielder, who had been visibly frustrated during parts of the first half, posted an image from the game alongside the words: “This one means everything,” accompanied by a red heart and his personal hashtag.
The response underneath his post reflected the mood within the dressing room. Match-winner Brian Brobbey replied: “Yess my captain,” while other comments described the victory as “historic” - a fitting description for a result that will live long in Sunderland folklore.
Xhaka’s post in particular appeared to resonate strongly with supporters, not just for the message but for the context. His annoyance during the first half had not gone unnoticed, and the turnaround in both his performance and Sunderland’s display after the break added weight to his words. There was also interaction between players in the comments, underlining the unity within the group. Brobbey’s response to Xhaka was one of several exchanges, with teammates clearly feeding off the momentum of the result even after leaving the pitch.
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