The Black Cats Recreate Notorious Magpies Group Snapshot In the Wake of Pivotal Local Rivalry Win.

An altered coaching staff and an almost completely different team – but the club at Sunderland remembered vividly.

Almost 24 months prior, after Newcastle's thumping 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the Geordies celebrated with a full squad photograph on the pitch.

This time, the situation were flipped.

Nick Woltemade's mistake proved sufficient to give Sunderland a historic win over their rivals in the return of the Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to recreate Newcastle's post-match snapshot at full-time.

“Always unpredictable, creative, adaptive,” said with a grin Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when asked about who proposed the idea.

Defender Dan Ballard, who conceded an own goal in that cup defeat, was the sole Sunderland player to be in the starting XI in both games.

He revealed how he was determined to make amends for the loss, stating: “Words can't express it. It was agonizing for the players and for the fans. We felt we had failed them, so we're ecstatic with this win.”

“It prepared us more for today. We came in with more quality in this team, true characters, we stuck in there, fought really hard and I thought we merited the win.”

‘Rivalry games demand victory, regardless of the performance’

Sitting in seventh Sunderland are having a excellent return to the top flight after promotion via the play-offs last season.

The Black Cats have 26 points in 16 games, their highest total at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01.

They are yet to lose in the league at the Stadium of Light, which boasted an electric atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon.

“Derbies, you have to win, it does not matter how,” said captain Granit Xhaka. “This team merits greater recognition – where we are in the league is remarkable and we're working really hard.”

Sunderland are also undefeated in their last 10 league games against Newcastle, their best-ever streak without defeat against the Magpies.

Newcastle's last league win over Sunderland was over a decade ago.

Manager Regis le Bris said he was “extremely pleased” with the outcome.

“It was a derby and we were expected [to win] of our fans,” he continued. “This win is well deserved, we were disciplined and the lads were superb.”

“It's fantastic for the area, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a special game, but we have to reset quickly as we have another tough challenge in Brighton in one week.”