Previous Sunderland manager, Alex Neil knows what the reception will be like as his former team travel to face his new side, Stoke City.
Neil joined Sunderland in February of last year and had immediate success in the North East, becoming a well-loved figure.
Three months after replacing Lee Johnson, the Black Cats were promoted back to the Championship through the play-offs.
After a great start to life back in the second division, Neil departed the Stadium of Light to join a lower-placed Stoke side.
It is safe to say this didn’t make the Scot a popular figure with the fans. Now with the Potters being the next game, he is not expecting a nice atmosphere.
What has Alex Neil said about the Sunderland fans?
Despite having already played against Sunderland with his new side, the bad blood is still there.
Neil was well aware of what was coming: “Well, I’ll be getting dog’s abuse from one half. That’s just the nature of football, isn’t it?
“Obviously, we want to win, we want to play well. We’re at home and we want to go and try to win the game and get our fans behind us.”
The Black Cats’ fans will be outnumbered away from home, but as always they will make their voices heard.
With the added tension of the managerial situation, it is likely that the game is going to be affected.
On that point, the Potters’ boss said: “Sunderland will come here and they’ll be hoping that they’ll be making it a lot more difficult for me in particular.
“That’s just the nature of the beast.”
Tony Mowbray’s revolution
Despite Sunderland fans not being forthcoming to forgive Neil, everyone is more than happy with life under Mowbray.
Currently sitting in fourth place in the Championship, following a play off finish last season, times are good in the North East right now.
Since the former Blackburn Rovers boss came in, things have just got better and better.
It is safe to say, in hindsight, it may have been a blessing in disguise seeing Neil depart.