Newcastle 1 Sunderland 2 – Sunday 22 March 2026 12pm
Instant fan/writer reaction from some of our regular contributors on The Mag.
Nat Seaton:
‘Our 51st game of the season (against a team playing their 35th…) unravelled in the second half to an agonising derby day defeat.
I get that we are fatigued but only four outfield players were on the whole game, our subs with their energy do not seem to be able to impact as needed, this could be because of the personnel coming on compared to earlier in the season before injuries had an impact.
Absolutely gutted and no game for three weeks to turn things around.
Players to come back for the next game at Palace and we need them to hopefully kickstart a decent end to this exhausting season.’
Simon Ritter:
‘Outmuscled for the second time this season by Sunderland.
We were the better team in the first half, though the warning signs were there before the interval.
Once they equalised, United huffed and puffed without severely testing the keeper again.
The Mackems were not more skilful than us but found the energy in the last quarter to get the winner.
Eyebrows were raised by our starting line-up but the changes didn’t improve our play, apart from Thiaw for Botman.
Ramsey my man of the match. Nearly every other man in black and white was below par.’
Billy Miller:
‘Rubbish team beats more rubbish team in rubbish game.
Didn’t look up for it.
Couldn’t string passes together.
Shipped shocking goals.
It should be a good thing we didn’t get any bookings but to me it was just indicative of our lack of fight.’
Mark Jankowski:
‘Newcastle went into today’s game after a run of very favourable results over the weekend.
They left with some of the biggest questions hanging over the team since Eddie Howe took over the job.
Newcastle went into the break with the advantage after a very scrappy first half, in which we’d had the better chances.
The second half unravelled after Botman departed the pitch following yet another assault by Sunderland’s eventual match winner.
Newcastle huffed and puffed and were maybe unlucky to see a 2nd ruled out for a foul (when Sunderland had gotten away with far worse all game).
The killer blow came late on (yet again) as Newcastle were careless pushing for a winner.
Questions will rightly be asked following today’s result, there’s only even games left for Eddie Howe to answer them and ensure he’s still manager come August.’
Tony Mallabar:
‘I am physically shaking with rage after that.
Eddie Howe needs to be gone before Man City/Arsenal lift the league cup tonight.
Nick Woltemade needs never to pull on a black and white shirt again.
Whoever sanctioned our summer transfer policy needs sacking as well.
Lewis Hall had his worst game in a black and white shirt.
Brobbey totally dominated our central defence.
Our fans created a fantastic atmosphere, only to have it shoved down our throats with a display so spineless.
Worst capitulation I’ve ever seen in my 48 years supporting Newcastle United.’
David Punton:
‘An absolute disaster for the manager.
This one is firmly on him, in my view.
The way we threw this game away was nothing short of criminal.
A terrible result that heaps misery on the fans and gives our near neighbours the bragging rights.
No excuse about absent players or fatigue wash with this one.
Today’s opponents have been all the way to league one and back and have just done the double over us.
Totally unacceptable.’
Matt Busby said…:
‘That was awful.
Even the benefit of an early goal didn’t calm the nerves and we paid the price for getting dragged down to the level of a team that didn’t seem remotely interested in winning that game until we gifted it to them.
The clown behind me joining in with the Mackems’ chorus of ‘sacked in the morning’ directed at our manager needs to be sectioned in my opinion.
Three weeks off. Let’s regroup and see if we can pull our socks up for the run in.’
Newcastle 1 Sunderland 2 – Sunday 22 March 2026 12pm
Match Stats
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Gordon 10
Sunderland:
Talbi 57, Brobbey 90
Possession was Newcastle 60% Sunderland 40%
Total shots were Newcastle 16 Sunderland 17
Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Sunderland 7
Corners were Newcastle 9 Sunderland 5
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 22 Sunderland 29
Newcastle team v Sunderland:
Ramsdale, Trippier (Livramento 65), Botman (Thiaw 54), Burn, Hall, Ramsey, Joelinton, Woltemade (Willock 65), Elanga (Jacob Murphy 65), Gordon (Wissa 89), Barnes (Osula 76)
Unused subs:
Pope, Alex Murphy, Neave