The State of Play
Sunderland is set to host their arch-rivals at the Stadium of Light while still adapting to the philosophy of their new head coach. Mick Beale, the former Rangers boss, took the helm midway through December, and despite a shaky start, The Black Cats have shown improvement, securing a spot in the top six in the Championship.
In their 2-0 victory over Preston North End on New Year’s Day, Sunderland scored first-half goals through Alex Pritchard and Nikita Rusyn. With seven points collected from their last three festive period matches, they now focus on achieving a significant result in the FA Cup.
Read our other FA Cup news stories here:
Newcastle aware of importance of Sunderland clash – Howe
‘You have to treat it differently’ – Postecoglou on FA Cup bow
Emery wants more knockout glory as Aston Villa target FA Cup run
In an ideal scenario, Eddie Howe would approach the FA Cup third-round weekend with plans to rest and rotate his key players. However, the pressure is mounting on the former AFC Bournemouth boss. Last month’s exits from European competition and the EFL Cup make it unlikely for Newcastle United to surpass last season’s EFL Cup final appearance and fourth-place finish.
The Magpies kicked off 2024 with a 4-2 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield on New Year’s Day, firmly placing them in the middle of the Premier League table. Additionally, defeats to Nottingham Forest and Luton Town over the festive period highlight a slump in form, as they have managed only one win in their last eight matches across all competitions.
Team News
Mick Beale faces the challenge of missing some key players for the upcoming. Dennis Cirkin, who had appeared to recover from a hamstring injury, is now likely to be sidelined again after aggravating the same injury.
In addition to Cirkin, Bradley Dack, Niall Huggins, Corry Evans, and Elliot Embleton continue to be unavailable due to injuries. Hemir is out due to illness, and Patrick Roberts is doubtful. On a positive note, Jay Matete has returned from injury for The Black Cats.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, already grappling with well-documented injury issues, faces more challenges. Kieran Trippier, currently out of form, missed the recent game against Liverpool and is also doubtful for the weekend due to a groin injury.
Trippier may join the sidelined players, including Callum Wilson, Nick Pope, Javi Manquillo, Harvey Barnes, Elliot Anderson, Matt Targett, and Jacob Murphy due to various injuries. Additionally, Sandro Tonali remains unavailable for the foreseeable future due to suspension.
Expected Line-ups
Sunderland: Patterson; Hume, O’Nien, Ballard, Alese; Ekwah, Neil; Pritchard, Bellingham, Clarke; Rusyn
Newcastle United: Dubravka; Livramento, Schar, Botman, Burn; Miley, Guimaraes, Longstaff; Gordon, Isak, Joelinton
What they Said
Mick Beale on the upcoming derby:
“These derby games, and this draw in particular, has got to everyone’s imagination, that’s why the focus should only be on the two football teams, the fans on the day and all the positive things.”
Eddie Howe on being drawn against Sunderland:
“When the draw was made, we made reference to the draw and I gave a couple of the Geordies a chance to speak about the fixture, just to set the scene. The players know everything they need to know about the fixture. Sometimes you can overkill that so it’s then been about how we’re going to play and how we’re going to execute our plan.”
When and How to Watch
This match is being televised live on ITV1, and can be streamed on ITVX platforms.
Prediction
There’s considerable excitement among neutral fans for this clash, marking the first Tyne-Wear Derby in eight years. The two teams have traversed vastly different paths over nearly a decade. Sunderland enter the game with high hopes, welcoming what appears to be a significantly struggling Newcastle side.
Mick Beale’s appointment didn’t initially garner much support from fans, with some expressing outright scepticism. However, a victory in this crucial game could potentially sway most, if not all, doubters. Newcastle are expected to face intense pressure, and the prospect of them keeping a clean sheet appears highly unlikely. Consequently, a lively and entertaining Saturday lunchtime clash is anticipated, which could easily end all square and require a replay.
