Brian Brobbey was Sunderland\u2019s latest derby hero as Eddie Howe\u2019s position as Newcastle United head coach became untenable after an embarrassing week for him and the club.<\/p>\n
It hasn\u2019t been Newcastle\u2019s week. It hasn\u2019t been Newcastle\u2019s season. Sunday was certainly not Newcastle\u2019s day.<\/p>\n
Sunderland have done the double over Newcastle having been promoted last season, ending an eight-year hiatus from the top flight. In that time, the Black Cats have spent four years in League One and experienced heartbreak after heartbreak; Newcastle were bought by trillionaires from Saudi Arabia, who have injected hundreds of millions of pounds into the club.<\/p>\n
Doing the double over Newcastle as a newly-promoted team sums up this incredible Sunderland season, but the more significant record is an 11-game unbeaten derby run in the Premier League for the latter, whose most recent top-flight defeat to the Magpies came back in 2011.<\/p>\n
Back in December, Sunderland wanted it more and won 1-0 \u2013 a scoreline which flattered Newcastle on an embarrassing day<\/a>.<\/p>\n That felt like a nadir for the Magpies and Howe, but an already miserable week has now ended with the worst result possible.<\/p>\n Losing to Sunderland is simply the worst thing that could happen in the life of a Newcastle United<\/a> fan.<\/p>\n Supporters will be feeling very emotional, so many will be screaming for Howe to go, but even from the outside looking in, his number looks up.<\/p>\n Having won the Carabao Cup last season and qualified for the Champions League twice, some may argue he has enough credit in the bank to stay until the end of the season, giving him a fair crack at qualifying for the Europa League or Europa Conference League.<\/p>\n We\u2019re not convinced.<\/p>\n The Tyne-Wear derby started so well too. Anthony Gordon gave Newcastle the lead after 10 minutes thanks to a terrible Luke O\u2019Nien error.<\/p>\n At that point, Newcastle should have pushed on and put their rivals to the sword. After all, Sunderland were missing so many key players, including Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele and Dan Ballard. And on paper, the hosts have the better team. They were in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Sunderland were promoted last year.<\/p>\n But football, as we all know, is not played on paper and just like in December, Sunderland wanted it so, so much more. That is more important than talent in a derby at this level.<\/p>\n The fact Sunderland have some very good players helps as well, believe it or not. Sunday afternoon\u2019s victory doesn\u2019t just emphasise Regis Le Bris\u2019 tactical superiority and Sunderland\u2019s desire to win, but also the clubs\u2019 contrasting summer transfer windows as new boys Brian Brobbey and Chemsdine Talbi scored to turn things around at St James\u2019 Park.<\/p>\n Newcastle\u2019s summer was an unadulterated disaster as Alexander Isak left and Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa were signed as replacements for over \u00a3120million combined.<\/p>\n Woltemade was signed to be the focal point up top, but as he has been in recent weeks, he was completely wasted in midfield. Wissa, meanwhile, was only called upon in injury time, after William Osula.<\/p>\n Their summer window really set them up for the season they\u2019ve endured and, while some could argue Howe has been let down, he still spent \u00a3255m on new players. Only Chelsea and a record-breaking Liverpool spent more<\/a>.<\/p>\n Spending that money and having some excellent players at your disposal makes so many things unacceptable.<\/p>\n