Sunderland v Newcastle United: Premier League match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's fixture at the Stadium of Light

Newcastle manager John Carver gives instructions to Yoan Gouffran (GETTY IMAGES)

A finely poised North-East derby this weekend, gives football fans across the country something to look forward to this Easter bank holiday weekend. The derby sees two teams who could really do with a morale-boosting victory for two separate reasons

Sunderland are in desperate need of a win, as their survival chances look slimmer every week, but a victory against bitter rivals Newcastle is just what Dick Advocaat’s men need at this stage of the season. There will be two new managers at the helm for both clubs, as since the last fixture both clubs have replaced their managers respectively.

KICK OFF: Sunday, 4pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Newcastle 0-1 Sunderland (Johnson) Premier League, December 2014

Newcastle 0-3 Sunderland (Borini, Johnson, Colback) Premier League, February 2014

Sunderland (Fletcher, Borini) 2-1 Newcastle (Debuchy) Premier League, October 2013

ODDS:

Sunderland 3/2 Draw 21/10 Newcastle 21/10

STATS:

Sunderland have won the last four Tyne-wear derbies

Sunderland have not won in the league in seven games stretching back to the end of January

Newcastle have won just one of their last seven in the league

Sunderland have not scored in their last five home games

CLASSIC MATCH: Sunderland 1-4 Newcastle, Premier League 2006

This derby had extra spice added to it from the start as it was to be Newcastle legend Alan Shearer’s last Tyne - Wear derby, and boy did he make sure he went out in style. The black cats surprisingly took the lead in this one trough Justin Hoyte, but a second half collapse from struggling Sunderland saw Newcastle score 4 and surge to an emphatic derby day win. Shearer scored the second from the spot and led his side to victory. Sunderland were relegated later that season.