Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, speaking to Sky Sports, said:
“It was not our finest game. The effort was there but the quality was not. It was a game of really few chances decided by a freak goal and we could not create the opening we wanted.
“The goal came at a really bad time and was bad in its construction – Nick has not meant to do it but it has decided the game. I thought we had defended pretty well.
“The quality was missing in both halves, we were disappointed with our creative output. There was more intensity and more bravery on the ball after the changes without creating the chances and their goalkeeper was not overworked.
“We know how much this means and all the focus on today was huge. We tried to deliver our best performance and we haven’t done that. We feel disappointed in ourselves and that we left something on the pitch and that’s a horrible feeling.”
Mike Jones14 December 2025 16:42
Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka, speaking to Sky Sports:
“Derbies, you have to win, it does not matter how. This team deserves much more and more respect as where we are in the league is amazing and we’re working really hard.
“In the first half we had much more control with the ball but it’s normal you don’t do it for 90 minutes. After 1-0 the game changed a bit, but we were very good without the ball and we deserved the three points for sure.”
Mike Jones14 December 2025 16:37
Sunderland take bragging rights
Sunderland’s victory means they take the bragging rights off Newcastle.
They also move up to seventh in the Premier League table and are four points ahead of their rivals with 16 games played.
The Black Cats are also unbeaten in 10 league game derbies now too.
Mike Jones14 December 2025 16:28
Sunderland defender Dan Ballard, speaking to Sky Sports:
“You cannot describe [the feeling]. It was so painful [losing 3-0 at home to Newcastle in the FA Cup in January 2024] for the players and for the fans so we felt we had let them down so we’re delighted with this win.
“It prepared us more for today. We came in with more quality in this team, real leaders, we stuck in there, fought really hard and I thought we deserved the win.
“There was not much in the game in terms of chances. When you go a goal ahead it’s about game management and I thought we did that very well – the boys were brilliant.”
Mike Jones14 December 2025 16:24
Full-time! Sunderland 1-0 Newcastle
90+7 mins: Granit Xhaka caught a blow to the left eye and there’s blood coming from his head.
He goes off for treatment and Sunderland have 10-men as the game resumes.
Newcastle loft a cross into the box, there’s a scramble and Wissa goes down.
The referee points to the keeper for a goal kick.
The whistle then goes and the Stadium of Light erupts in a loud, loud roar!
Sunderland have won the Tyne-Wear derby.
Mike Jones14 December 2025 15:58
90+4 mins: Joe Willock and Wilson Isidor square off with each other after Robin Roefs is cleaned out.
Malick Thiaw seems to receive a yellow card as well after the argy-bargy all dies down.
Due to that there’ll be a few more minutes to play.
Mike Jones14 December 2025 15:55
90 mins: Four minutes of added time to play.
Newcastle are running out of time to find their equaliser.
Mike Jones14 December 2025 15:53
88 mins: Eddie Howe looks worried. I don’t think he’s seen enough from his players to be sure they can score here.
The Sunderland fans are singing away. They seem confident.
Willock runs the ball out of play trying to make a tackle and Newcastle have to defend again.
Mike Jones14 December 2025 15:49
85 mins: There are plenty of nervous faces in the crowd among both sets of supporters.
Sunderland have the lead but it is Newcastle who are pressing to score.
Can they get an equaliser and silence the crowd late in this game?
Mike Jones14 December 2025 15:47
78 mins: Yoana Wissa is on for Newcastle having replaced Woltemade.
The cross comes in from Barnes on the right and Wissa throws himself at it only for Roefs to cling onto the ball.
Mike Jones14 December 2025 15:40