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Sunderland are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League games against Newcastle United At a glance Rivals met in the Premier League for the first time since 2016 Nick Woltemade scored own goal to put Sunderland in front Sunderland denied a second after Aaron Ramsdale saves from Wilson Isidor PLAYER RATINGS Nick Woltemade put through his own net as Sunderland enjoyed a derby win to remember against arch-rivals Newcastle United. These North East neighbours renewed hostilities for the first time in nearly a decade in the Premier League on Sunday, and it was Woltemade who made a decisive contribution - but not in the way the German forward would have imagined. The second half had not long got under way when Sunderland defender Nordi Mukiele whipped a teasing cross into the box and Woltemade attempted to head the ball behind. But the club's record signing ended up directing the ball in off the crossbar and into the net to send the Stadium of Light into raptures. It felt like the roof was about to come off the stadium on an emotional afternoon for the hosts - just a day after club legend Gary Rowell died at the age of 68 following a long battle with leukemia. Rowell cemented his place in the hearts of Sunderland fans by scoring a hat-trick against Newcastle in 1979, and Regis le Bris' fearless side built on the club's strong record against their bitter rivals. The tone was set by Sunderland supporters unfurling a huge tifo before a ball was even kicked, which depicted a black cat hunting down a magpie in a nod to the clubs' respective nicknames. And Sunderland fed off the noise of a febrile Stadium of Light from the off as forward Bertrand Traore crashed into Lewis Hall from kick-off. The remarkably frenetic nature of the game did not subside but both teams lacked composure and creativity in front of goal, particularly in the first half, with captain Granit Xhaka firing over from outside the box and defender Dan Ballard also sending a header off target. But Sunderland landed what proved to be a decisive blow after the break when Woltemade scored just the second ever Premier League own goal in the Tyne-Wear derby. The hosts went close to doubling their advantage late on, but Aaron Ramsdale made a big save to keep out substitute Wilson Isidor's stinging volley. Sunderland saw the game out to move up to seventh - five places above Newcastle. Have your say on Sunderland's performance What did you make of Newcastle's display? This video can not be played Regis Le Bris ecstatic after winning the Wear Tyne derby Jermain Defoe's volley. Kieran Richardson's thunderbolt free-kick. Fabio Borini's howitzer. You can now add Woltemade's header to the list of memorable derby goals Sunderland have profited from at the Stadium of Light. Never has a contribution from a Newcastle player been cheered so wildly by Sunderland supporters. The hosts may have only had a single shot on target on Sunday, but don't let that fool you - they fully deserved this win. When these sides last met - in the FA Cup, a couple of seasons ago - they were separated by a division. It was an afternoon when the gulf in class was evident. Not anymore. Sunderland have now beaten, among others, Newcastle and Chelsea and drawn against Arsenal, Aston Villa and Liverpool since coming up through the play-offs. They have not lost a single game at home. This side's motto, 'til the end', has been associated with a series of astonishing late goals, but it was telling those powers of recovery were not required against Newcastle. 'Till the end' instead summed up the hosts' solidity and composure as they saw the game out. Goalkeeper Robin Roefs stood tall and repeatedly claimed the ball. A smiling Mukiele whipped up the fans after winning a throw-in. Ballard held off Yoane Wissa in the dying moments. No wonder the stadium was still full long after full-time as Sunderland supporters stayed behind to salute their side. This video can not be played Howe knows Newcastle need to do better Newcastle players emerged first out of the dressing room for the second half. By a considerable distance. The message was clear: the visitors were eager to get going. Yet you would not have known it from their performance. It was Sunderland who started the second half on the front foot and a stunned Woltemade soon had his hands on his head after scoring what proved to be a decisive own goal. Yet that setback did little to spark Newcastle back into life. Eddie Howe had made the "importance" of this game clear to his players, but this was a limp performance. From the off. Cautious Newcastle set out to hit newly-promoted Sunderland on the break, but never looked like doing so as they struggled to string passes together. Anthony Gordon harmlessly dribbled the ball out of play at one point. Anthony Elanga was anonymous. Woltemade's biggest contribution came in the opposition box. The visitors had the luxury of a stronger bench - introducing Joe Willock, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes and Wissa in the second half - but Roefs never looked unduly concerned. If that was not damning enough for Howe, Sunderland then rubbed salt into the wounds at full-time by recreating the team photograph on the pitch that Newcastle took after defeating the Black Cats in the FA Cup a couple of seasons ago. This felt like a damaging afternoon. Sunderland travel to the Amex Stadium to take on Brighton on Saturday, 20 December (15: 00 GMT) before welcoming Leeds United to the Stadium of Light on Sunday, 28 December (14: 00 GMT). Newcastle host Fulham at St James' Park in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, 17 December (20: 15 GMT) before another home game against Chelsea on Saturday, 20 December (12: 30 GMT). After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 14th December 2025 at 18: 27 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Régis Le Bris Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Eddie Howe Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Régis Le Bris Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Eddie Howe Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Premier League All competitions All competitions All competitions Sunderland are unbeaten in their last nine league games against Newcastle (W6 D3), with this the first such Tyne/Wear derby since a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park in March 2016. Newcastle have lost their last three away league games against Sunderland, more than they had in their previous 21 visits combined (W6 D13 L2). They’ve never lost four in a row at the Mackems before. Sunderland’s current run of nine without defeat is their longest ever unbeaten league run against Newcastle (W6 D3). However, they lost the most recent derby in all competitions, going down 3-0 at home in an FA Cup third round tie in January 2024. Along with Arsenal, Sunderland are one of two teams still unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season (W4 D3). Indeed, the Black Cats have more points at the Stadium of Light this term (15) than they managed in the whole of their last campaign in the top-flight (14 in 2016-17). Newcastle have both scored and conceded a goal in each of their last eight Premier League games. They last had a longer such run in the top-flight between December 1960 and March 1961 (13 games). Newcastle have won three of their last four Premier League games (D1), as many as they had in their previous 13 (D3 L7). The Magpies’ 4-1 win at Everton in their last away game ended a run of nine without a win on the road (D4 L5). Only Burnley (12. 3) have a lower expected goals total than Sunderland (13) in the Premier League this season. However, with 18 goals the Black Cats rank fourth for x G overperformance this term (+5). No side have gained more points from losing positions in the Premier League than Sunderland this season (12), while no side have lost more from winning positions so far than Newcastle (11). After a run of 22 Premier League games without a goal, Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon has now scored in both of his last two – he’s never scored in three in a row before. Both of his goals have come from the penalty spot, with no Magpies player scoring a penalty in three consecutive Premier League games before. Newcastle’s Bruno Guimarães has scored five Premier League goals this season, only netting more in a single campaign in 2023-24 (7). However, all five of his strikes this season have come in home games, while nine of his last 10 overall have come at St James’ Park. Delay in match because of an injury Dan Burn (Newcastle United). Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland). Dan Burn (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Granit Xhaka (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Bertrand Traoré. Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card. Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United). Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Omar Alderete. Foul by Bertrand Traoré (Sunderland). Lewis Hall (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Granit Xhaka (Sunderland). Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt blocked. Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Foul by Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland). Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Bertrand Traoré (Sunderland). Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Nordi Mukiele (Sunderland). Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.