Sunderland AFC vs Newcastle United: One-Zero, Defoe, And Five In A Row!
By Alex McCain
England is rife with passionate encounters between rivaled clubs. However, very few can even claim to come close to the age-old feud between Sunderland AFC and Newcastle United.
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Today’s encounter at the Stadium of Light was the 152nd derby day the two clubs have shared; a long and winding timeline of ferocious fixtures that date back as early as the 19th century.
In more recent terms, both sides came into this match on a particularly poor run of form. Allowing five goals in their last two Premier League games — while failing to score in both –Sunderland have lacked much success as of late.
The previous result — a resounding 4-0 defeat to the ironically goal-shy Aston Villa — was a testament to this lack of league success. The result also marked the final match in charge for the embattled Gus Poyet.
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At the other end of the pitch, Newcastle traveled to the Stadium of Light on the back of three consecutive defeats. Having won only once in their previous seven league matches, the Toons had faced many struggles of their own.
Needless to say, both sides weren’t exactly looking formidable. The only real way a probable winner could reasonably be picked is if Sunderland’s psychological advantage over their bitter rivals was taken into account.
No Sunderland supporter would let a single football fan forget the fact that the Black Cats had won the last four matches against their arch-rivals Newcastle United.
No matter what either side had done coming into the game, the question of how long Sunderland could keep this recurring triumph going loomed over the stadium. Could Sunderland defeat their derby rivals again, making it five in a row for the Black Cats?
Evidently they could, thanks in no small part to a piece of sheer individual brilliance from a man named Jermaine Defoe.
Jermaine Defoe becomes Jermaine Defive in the eyes of the Sunderland fans.
There was only one goal in the game; but what a spectacular goal it was. Defoe controlled the ball during the very depths of first-half stoppage time and — on his weak foot — launched the ball into the corner of the net from an angle that many a striker would consider impossible.
Outside of Defoe’s goal, the match saw very few goal-scoring chances. A Connor Wickham header which hit the bottom of the post, and a Patrick van Aanholt strike which ricocheted off of the net’s support beams, served as the only other goal scoring chances..
While Sunderland struggled with their final touch for most of the match, Newcastle also had difficulty in the final third. The crosses which floated in from set-pieces were well held by the six-foot-eight frame of Costel Pantilimon. Pantilimon would only be challenged once all match with the visitors only managing one shot on target.
For the Sunderland fans, the reign of Dick Advocaat is firmly under way. Mirroring the start under Gus Poyet, Sunderland have won their fifth straight match against rival Newcastle.
While the managerial situation at Sunderland appears to be under control for the time being, Mike Ashley will surely face many more questions about the future of John Carver with the supporter’s desire for a new manager set to possibly intensify.