Sunderland vs Newcastle Predictions

• Sunderland have scored in 12 of their 14 home games across all competitions.
• Newcastle score on average 1.95 goals-per-game in the Premier League.
• Both teams have scored in five of Newcastle’s last seven games, they have just one clean sheet in their last eight.

Derby date for North East rivals

The FA Cup third round has thrown up some great ties this year and one of the real highlights is a first Wear-Tyne Derby since the 2015/16 season as Sunderland entertain Newcastle.

Much has changed for these two sides in the intervening years as Sunderland dropped into League One for a four-season stint and are now attempting to work their way back to the top tier as promotion contenders in the Championship, while Newcastle have ambitious new owners and have secured a return to the Champions League.

The rivalry between the two North East clubs remains as fierce as ever, however, and that makes picking a result a tough task. Both sets of players should give their all here – and that means both teams to score looks a good starting point for our man bet.

Sunderland have scored in 12 of their 14 games at the Stadium of Light across all competitions and have also conceded in six of their last eight home games. Newcastle have scored an impressive 39 goals in 20 Premier League games but have just one clean sheet in their last eight in all competitions. If one of these teams makes an early breakthrough the other will have to go for it – local pride is perhaps an even bigger prize than FA Cup progress where these teams are concerned – and that makes goals for both seem likely.

Newcastle are in poor form and have lost their last three, while Sunderland are now unbeaten in three under new boss Michael Beale after a 3-0 defeat to Coventry in his first game in charge. However, I’m leaning towards an away win in what could be a close game as Newcastle are clearly a level above their hosts, even with a big injury list, and if the visitors are at the top of their game they should be able to grind out a victory.

The Black Cats have an impressive record against the Magpies and have won the last three derbies as the home side, but they were all league games and this is a match-up between a strong Premier League team and an ambitious Championship outfit. Sunderland’s home FA Cup record is less impressive and they have gone seven games without a win at the Stadium of Light in this competition – with three draws and four defeats since a win over Leeds back in 2015. Taking that into account, a 2-1 win for Newcastle is the correct score prediction.

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