Gary Neville has explained just how important beating Sunderland is for Newcastle United this weekend.
Sunderland were drawn against Newcastle United in the third round of the FA Cup at the start of December, bringing a eight-year wait for a Tyne-Wear derby to an end.
Having just beaten Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as drawn to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, the Magpies couldn’t have been happier to finally get a chance to end Sunderland’s unbeaten run against them.
Things look a lot more concerning for Newcastle now though, just days away from the big clash at the Stadium of Light.
Eddie Howe’s side have won only one of their last eight matches in all competitions, while they haven’t won on the road since the 3-0 win over Manchester United at the start of November. In fact, it is their only away victory since they thrashed Sheffield United 8-0 in September.
Sat ninth in the table, Newcastle United face huge trouble if they are unable to beat Sunderland this weekend.
Gary Neville has addressed the FA Cup clash and has admitted that Eddie Howe ‘can’t lose’ on Wearside.
Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, the former defender said: “It is the game they didn’t want.
“Newcastle at this moment in time probably don’t need the FA Cup. I mean, they do need it if they could go and win it, then brilliant because they need a trophy but they need to get back on track. What is going to get Eddie Howe into next season is pushing up the league and finishing in the top six.
“That’s what I think he will be measured by at the end of the season. Yeah, of course, if he wins the FA Cup. One thing is for certain going back to Sunderland, he can’t lose that game. That’s it. Because that will just bring the fans on top.
“I think the fans are good and they’re not sat there thinking that they’re upset with our manager or the players but I think that the Sunderland game is a bit dicey. They have some difficult games around it but I feel there’s enough credit being built up for Newcastle to be okay, but that game is a naughty little fixture.”
What happens to Newcastle if they actually lose?
Sunderland had only one win in their previous five games when they were drawn to Newcastle, so it has been a complete mix of emotions in the month-long lead up to derby day.
There is still a lot of uncertainty around Michael Beale‘s football and where we are heading this season, but we surely feel a lot more calm than Newcastle heading into this game.
While Sunderland fans desperately want to claim bragging rights too, it is a much bigger came for the Magpies. A defeat for them is humiliating, and could spell the end of Eddie Howe’s time on Tyneside.
A defeat for us is definitely disappointing, but it’s also a case of – well, ok, but you have Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon. Your striker scored significantly more than our whole team put together.
So we will head into this game with great excitement and nerves, but it will be Newcastle fans in tears if they fail to beat us. But I won’t get my hopes up.