Sunderland v Newcastle United team news & stats

Mark Holmes

Sunderland are currently enjoying their best ever run against Newcastle United but are also on the Premier League’s longest winless run.

Team news

Sunderland welcome Jeremain Lens and Sebastian Coates back from suspension, while Ola Toivonen has returned to training after missing last weekend’s defeat to West Brom with a groin injury.

Newcastle have no fresh injury conerns ahead of the game and have Kevin Mbabu Rolando Aarons available again after they shook off respective hamstring and calf injuries.

Kick-off at the Stadium of Light on Sunday is at midday.

Opta stats

  • Sunderland have won the last five Tyne-Wear derbies in league competition, their best ever run against Newcastle United.
  • Newcastle have managed to score just one goal in their last 537 minutes of football against Sunderland.
  • Sunderland have won eight Premier League games against Newcastle – versus no other side have they won more often (also eight wins vs. Bolton and Everton).
  • However, the Black Cats are currently on the longest run without a win in the Premier League (12 games – W0 D5 L7).
  • Sam Allardyce has never lost his opening Premier League home game in charge of a club (W3 D1).
  • Allardyce managed Newcastle United 21 times in the Premier League (W7 D5 L9) between Aug 2007-Jan 2008 and will become the first ever manager to have taken charge of both Sunderland and Newcastle in a Tyne-Wear derby.
  • These two sides have allowed the most shots on target by opponents this season in the Premier League – Newcastle (55), Sunderland (53).
  • Sunderland have had the fewest touches in the opposition box this season after the opening nine matchdays (116).
  • Georginio Wijnaldum scored as many goals in his last Premier League appearance (4) as Sunderland have in their last six Premier League games combined (4).
  • Wijnaldum has only attempted 12 shots (including blocked) in the Premier League this season, but has scored with half of these (6).

Predictions

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