Bit of a tasty one in the north-east this weekend

Sunday sees the return of the Sunderland v Newcastle powder-keg to the Premier League after an absence of far too long.

The Mackems have been one of the stories of the season with a points tally heading into Christmas – and a spate of AFCON departures – that ought to see them safe in spite of their preseason status as relegation favourites.

For Newcastle, it’s been a topsy-turvy season with some big Champions League results making up for a so-so domestic campaign, and they trail their promoted local rivals going into this explosive derby.

Expecting a spicy affair is the ever-keen Peter Crouch, who somehow never played in the Tyne-Wear showdown despite having a club list as long as… well, himself.

Here’s what he fancies on Sunday…

Sunderland to win
Granit Xhaka to commit 1+ fouls
Wilson Isidor to have 1+ shots on target
Nick Woltemade to score or assist

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WHEN: Sunday, December 14th, 2pm
WHERE: Stadium of Light, Sunderland
TV: Sky Sports

It’s one of the few derbies I didn’t play in, but this is right up there with Liverpool and United or Arsenal and Spurs for me.

What makes this a bit special on Sunday is that they haven’t played in the league in quite a long time – it’s nearly ten years since they were both in the Premier League.

At Villa, I played in the first Birmingham derby after a similar gap and it was such an explosive game and atmosphere because of it. When teams play every season in the league you might lose a little bit of that edge from time to time, but this one’s not happened in nearly a decade in the league, so it’s a really big occasion.

There have been some iconic moments between the two sides over the years – I think back to Paolo Di Canio knee-sliding on the St James’ Park pitch and Jermaine Defoe’s stunning volley in 2015 – it’s a top fixture and the first one back after it being missed for a few years perks up everyone’s interest.

And it’s been an incredible season for Sunderland so far this season. I did say at the start of the season that I thought they could be the one to stay up and buck the trend of recent seasons for promoted sides because I thought they’d bought really well.

It wasn’t just adding the experience of Granit Xhaka, it was some of the other players they’d brought in as a few of the promoted sides were chasing them. Sunderland got them and it’s given them a big advantage.

Sunderland to Win

Whenever I’ve seen them play this season, no matter who it was against – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool – they’ve always been in the game and posed a problem. 

The manager, Regis Le Bris, has proven himself with getting them promoted and bringing in these new signings, and the atmosphere is always fantastic at the Stadium of Light. I thought they could stay up but they’ve gone beyond my expectations so far this season and they can genuinely finish in the top half of the league now.

And when I see Newcastle I think they should be higher up in the table. They have a squad that should be competing for the top four, they have a great manager and, even though they lost Isak they have ben able to cope with that reasonably well in the forward areas with Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon stepping up. He’s a real threat, a potential starter for England and a threat across the frontline.

You look at the midfield of Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes and this is as good as any in the league, and usually they are sound defensively but there have been too many mistakes leading to goals and it’s cost them this season

And that means I fancy the home side to nick this one on Sunday, 2-1 would be my prediction.

Granit Xhaka to commit 1+ fouls

He’s been a real leader even though he just signed in the summer and his presence just improves the side. He has on average just under a foul a game and this is going to be a huge occasion so it’s difficult to imagine he won’t commit at least one more.

Wilson Isidor to have 1+ shots on target

Idisor’s got four goals this season and is their top scorer. Three of those have come at home, and seven of his nine shots on target have been at the Stadium of Light as well. I think they’ll score a couple against a Newcastle defence that’s allowing more goals than we’d have expected in previous seasons and he’s the likeliest to be on the end of any chances, so a shot on target looks good for a bet builder.

Nick Woltemade to score or assist

I really like Nick Woltemade at the moment and the way he plays. He has five Premier League goals this season and got an assist against Spurs last week. Newcastle have attacking options around him so even if he doesn’t score there’s decent chance he sets up someone else and I do expect them to get a goal. There’s every chance he’s involved.

Sunderland to win
Granit Xhaka to commit 1+ fouls
Wilson Isidor to have 1+ shots on target
Nick Woltemade to score or assist

A Bet Builder on these selections pays at approximately 15/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP

*All odds quoted are correct at time of publication but subject to change

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