Chris Sutton has made his score prediction ahead of Sunderland’s FA Cup meeting with Newcastle United.
Social media pretty much blew up when Sunderland were drawn to their fierce rivals Newcastle in the third round of the FA Cup last month.
The two sides haven’t met since the last Wear-Tyne derby before the Magpies were relegated back in 2016.
Despite ending up in League One, Sunderland still hold the bragging rights after going nine games unbeaten against Newcastle – picking up six weeks, scoring 16 goals and conceding only four.
The two clubs are in very different positions since the last time they came together though, with Newcastle very recently being knocked out of the Champions League, while Michael Beale’s team sit sixth in the Championship.
The Black Cats were handed some hope when the Magpies endured their seventh defeat in eight games last weekend, while the pressure is most certainly on Eddie Howe to get this one right.
While there has already been talk of Howe’s job being under scrutiny if they do lose, Chris Sutton has predicted Newcastle to claim a 3-0 win just because ‘they have to’.
Writing in his BBC Sport column, Sutton said: “Mick Beale has just gone in a Sunderland after Tony Mowbray was harshly sacked as manager and this would be a massive win for him, but Newcastle need this even more. In fact, it feels like this is one they have to win, because their rivalry is that intense.
“Newcastle have lost in round three to League One sides in each of the past two seasons, and Eddie Howe loves to make lots of changes for these ties – but he cannot do that this time, in the position they are in, so I think they go full strength, and go through.
“But, even if they lose, I am not buying into any suggestion that the Magpies need to change their manager. We know they are on a bad run, but I think they should stick with Eddie Howe and most of their support is still with him.”
Can Sunderland do the unthinkable?
Newcastle United are undeniably the favourites to end Sunderland’s unbeaten run in the Wear-Tyne derby, but it is the pressure on the visitors that could make it a bit trickier.
While I really can’t see us scraping a win this weekend, I also don’t think the Mags will batter us.
Newcastle are missing a long list of key players and I feel like there will be a lot of nerves around that team – especially in the hot seat where Eddie Howe sits.
As long as we give it a good go and don’t get completely rolled over, I don’t think any Sunderland fan will complain.