Sunderland Recreate Notorious Magpies Team Photo Following ‘Special’ Local Rivalry Win.

New leadership and an almost completely different team – but someone at Sunderland remembered vividly.

Back in 2024, after a dominant Newcastle performance at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the rivals commemorated the moment with a full squad photograph on the pitch.

Now, the script were reversed.

Nick Woltemade's mistake proved sufficient to give Sunderland a memorable win over their rivals in the first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to mimic Newcastle's post-match snapshot at full-time.

“Always unpredictable, creative, adaptive,” remarked Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when asked about who came up with the gesture.

Defender Dan Ballard, who was unfortunate to score an own goal in that previous encounter, was the sole Sunderland player to start in the two games.

He revealed how he desperately wanted to make amends for the loss, stating: “It's indescribable. It was agonizing for the players and for the fans. We felt we had failed them, so we're delighted with this win.”

“It prepared us more for today. We came in with improved ability in this team, true characters, we persevered, fought really hard and I thought we deserved the win.”

‘Derbies you have to win, it does not matter how’

Sitting in seventh Sunderland are enjoying a superb return to the top flight post promotion via the play-offs last season.

The Black Cats have 26 points in 16 games, their most at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01.

They are still unbeaten in the league at the Stadium of Light, which had an feverish atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon.

“In local rivalry matches, the result is everything, the performance secondary,” said captain Granit Xhaka. “This team deserves much more – where we are in the league is incredible and we're working really hard.”

Sunderland are also unbeaten in their last 10 league games against Newcastle, their most extended period without defeat against the Magpies.

Newcastle's last league win over Sunderland was all the way back in 2011.

Manager Regis le Bris said he was “delighted and satisfied” with the performance.

“It was a derby and we were expected [to win] of our fans,” he continued. “This win is well deserved, we were composed and the lads were incredible.”

“It's positive for the area, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a unique game, but we have to turn the page as we have another hard game in Brighton in one week.”