Sunderland fans with an away game against Newcastle United.
The first one in a decade as the Mackems have been hiding in the lower leagues.
A high noon kick-off in the Premier League at St James’ Park on Sunday.
So what is the mood like amongst Sunderland fans ahead of Sunday’s match?
It appears to be a mixture of fear and bravado.
Some predictably laughable thoughts and claims from our Mackem friends.
Comments from Sunderland fans via their RTG message board:
‘This is the mags cup final make no doubt about it.’
‘If we win Eddie is gone I reckon.’
‘Glad I don’t work with mags anymore’
‘All the mags at my work are quite reasonable and are more on the side of we’ll probably beat them again.’
‘Bruno is in advanced talks to join Man U.’
‘Tonali too. If fact it is Sandro, who, according to one source is trying for push Man United to sign Bruno as well as himself.’
‘I can see it happening.’
‘I work at ASDA so we are all cordial. We will have our own respective tops on over the weekend. I also have some mag mates who are customers. I get along with them. But then since we all come from the same town I think the rivalry is more toned down. It’s not the savage onslaught of abuse that Sunderland-based Sunderland supporters and Newcastle-based Newcastle fans have.’
‘Do any other rivals harp on about being above each other?’
‘Whatever happens tomorrow…We have made enormous progress in the last 12 months. Far beyond most of our expectations.’
‘It’s sickening to think how pleased the safc fans that want RLB out will be if we get beat.’
‘As always I will be gutted if we lose to them but the hysteria on here will be pathetic as it is whenever we lose only x1000’
‘I’m with you as long as we don’t roll over. We get beat without a fight and I think the sh.. will hit the fan. We win and we’ll be building statues.’
‘There’s worrying signs going forward though, quite literally, namely chronically low amount of goals away from home.’
‘Will be gutted if we lose but wont be half as gutted as i was after Port Vale.’
‘We are definitely down to the bones at the moment, so not too hopeful for the mags game but at least we already have three points on the board against them’
‘Unless our levels jump up a few notches then we will be comfortably beat.’
‘If we are relying on o’nien at centre back then we are screwed.
No threat at the moment and we can’t absorb the intensity they will play with at home. Never mind we concede from a set piece every week.’
‘I suspect we will lose for several reasons, not least because of injuries to key players, but anyone who can’t separate a defeat to them tomorrow from what has been a terrific season is a complete and utter numpty.
You just know this place will be poisonous if we lose and that many will try their best to put a damper on what has been a season beyond all expectations.
If you were offered survival and a home win against the Mags this season before a ball was kicked, you’d have snapped hands off for that. It would have felt extraordinarily unrealistic.
We’re a newly promoted side against a team who just played in the Champions League knockout stage and who have spent nigh on a billion quid in recent seasons.
I’d urge people to look at the bigger picture but I know that will fall on deaf ears on here.’
‘We have to beat these every time we play them that’s a minimum NO EXCUSES.’
‘I won’t be happy if we lose tomorrow but under the circumstances I will understand the loss.
If we were able to field our full strength team I would be pretty confident of a win.’
‘If you’d be comfortable going to st James park with o’nien at centre half then I’m in shock tbh.
I’d be surprised if he lasted the 90′
‘Do we sit in deep and counter or do we go for broke with pace and power? Either way FTM!’
‘Sit back and try and counter, sounds obvious and predictable but if we play a high line and press we will get ripped apart, we still could anyway but this would at least minimise any damage. There no chance they will approach this like they did at our place’
‘They’re OK against tippy tappy teams but they buckle at a bit of bite.
Typical flat track bullies, really.’
‘The pressure is all on the Saudis
We have already beaten them this season and have been above them in the league most of it.’
‘The more I think about this, the more relaxed I am. I will be gutted to lose but let’s be honest, we all would have snapped your hands off for 40+ points and winning one of the derby games this season.
Add in the fact that we have 4 or 5 first teamers out, with very little back up to replace them, and it is Newcastle’s biggest game for years, then it looks a tough challenge for us on Sunday.’
‘The big thing is to weather the first 25/30 minutes. Keep them out, and get stuck into the likes of Joelinton. Don’t let them bully us.’
‘Low block…they struggle against it.
With that said we struggle to execute it lately.’
‘Well we will do with half our defence and our keeper missing.’
‘We probably need to keep a clean sheet given that we barely score away from home.’
‘The pressure is massively on them. Even a draw would be a bad result for them.
Believe me, if they win you will see celebrations like you’ve never seen before. However, if they lose it’ll be the biggest meltdown of all time.’
‘If we are still in it at 60mins I might fancy us as they’ll be knackered. I see Tonali is likely to play.’
‘Given our relative disadvantage in ability and availability our only hope is to park the bus and try and hit them on the counter.
We must not leave space for the likes of Gordon or Elanga to run into.
I’m expecting a hiding and an early goal for them, probably first ten minutes, which will ruin our gameplan.’
‘I’d shake hands on the dullest 0-0 right now’
‘They’re very vulnerable just before and after the break, and the last few minutes. They’re a mentally weak team.’
‘Well it appears toenails and gummymare are both out so they are very light on creative side of things. Miley is out also
So Willock, Ramsey thug linton and Woltemade ( I read will be their midfield axis )
It’s not all doom and gloom but they still ( to the neutral observer ) have some canny players.
Could be a rip roarer and I’d not be surprised to see thug linton cop a red.’
‘Not a chance we’re playing a high line defence with the pace they’ve got.’
‘‘The pressure is all on them’ lol: people love that nonsense mind. Just empty words isn’t it? It’s the biggest game of our season, the fans know it, the players know it and the manager knows it.’
‘We will go for nil nil and hope to score from a set piece or long throw’
‘We’re probably going to need to score at least 2 given their home goal scoring record. Somehow.’
‘They will be all over us like a rash from the first second. The unwashed baying for blood will have them unbelievably hyped up. We need to be better keeping the ball, it’s key for me, it allows us to grow into the game and compete. ‘
‘A draw for us will feel like a win. A draw for them will feel like a defeat.’