Newcastle v Sunderland: The view from St James' Park

Jack Colback knows all about the passion of the Tyne-Wear derby

Sunday sees Newcastle United take on Sunderland at St James' Park so we asked Toon devotee Kevin Doocey to give his views on his team and the fixture...

Newcastle v Sunderland
Sunday 21st December 2014
Sky Sports 1

Tyne-Wear clashes were once a thing of beauty for most Newcastle United fans, however results in this particular fixture have taken a turn for the worst for the Magpies since Alan Pardew assumed control of the reigns at St James' Park. Out of the last seven meetings, Newcastle have managed only one win, and that came in the away fixture at the Stadium of Light.

On Sunday, the two biggest clubs in the north-east of England meet again and Sunderland will be eyeing up a fourth successive victory against their men in black and white. The days of Newcastle enjoying vast superiority in this local fixture are long gone, and as far as most Toon fans are concerned, the hosts enter Sunday's fixture as underdogs, regardless of the Betfair markets that make them 2.111/10 favourites, regardless of the venue and the vociferous support that is sure to fill the terraces.

Whether the true passion of this brilliant derby has been lost on the French legion of players that have swept through St James' Park in the past couple of years, I don't know. But Newcastle United have not performed well against Sunderland for a number of years. There is no Alan Shearer, or even Shola Ameobi to bail Pardew's men out on Sunday. Instead, a young nucleus of local Geordies will attempt thwart the club's decline in the Tyne-Wear, with Paul Dummett, Steven Taylor, Jack Colback, Jak Alnwick, and Sammy Ameobi all likely to feature at some stage in front of a packed-out St James' Park.

Despite the records of late pointing towards another victory for the Black Cats, there is good reason to be optimistic if you are a NUFC fan. Spanish starlet Ayoze Perez has the potential to exploit any slack marking the visitors' dodgy back four with his razor sharp finishing, while Papiss Cisse may arrive off the bench to double up that threat when the game enters its final stages.

The key battle on Sunday, however, will take place in midfield. Colback may have rifled one into the top corner of the Gallowgate dressed in Sunderland colours last season, but this year he lines out in the attire of his boyhood club Newcastle, and you can be sure he will be eager to establish an early foot-hold on the game up against the likes of Lee Cattermole and Sebastian Larsson.

He will be further assisted by Moussa Sissoko who could ultimately decide where the points go in this fixture. If given the time and space to drive at Sunderland's midfield, then the hosts could be celebrating all three points at the end of the 90 minutes. With Pardew likely to keep things consistent in terms of team selection, we can expect Sammy Ameobi on the left hand side of midfield, with either Remy Cabella or Yoan Gouffran on the right.

The first goal in this game is absolutely crucial. It is imperative that Newcastle nab the opener in this fixture as it will relax sections of the home support and also put Sunderland in an uncomfortable position which would inevitably see them push further forward as the game progresses; suiting NUFC's pacy counter-attack style that has reaped rewards earlier this season.

Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson have enjoyed derby days against the Magpies in the past, and they are the men to keep an eye on at St James' come kick-off. Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson will need to be on full alert. If they can block off any service to the front men - Connor Wickham included - there is little else to worry about quality wise in the visitor's squad.

It's always a tough fixture to predict, but I can't see this game being a high-scoring affair. 

I will trust my heart with this one -- Newcastle United 1-0 Sunderland.

Recommended Bets
Newcastle United to win @ 2.111/10
Newcastle United to win 1-0 @ 6.05/1
Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.834/5

You've read the Newcastle view - now see what a Sunderland fan is saying ahead of the derby!

You can follow Kevin Doocey on Twitter or check out his Newcastle Blog, 'Tyne Time'.