Nick Woltemade’s own goal gave Sunderland their first win over Newcastle since October 2015 in the Premier League on Sunday.
In a much-anticipated but largely uneventful first top-flight meeting between the teams in almost nine years, £69 million signing Woltemade – scorer of seven goals in all competitions for the Magpies this season – headed in Nordi Mukiele’s cross for the decisive moment in the 46th minute at the Stadium of Light, where the Black Cats celebrated exuberantly with their thrilled fans at full time.
Seventh-placed Sunderland are two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, while Newcastle are four points shy of their arch-rivals in 12th.
The Stadium of Light is rocking in the derby… because Nick Woltemade has just headed into his own net! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/tNQKgyGdlM
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 14, 2025
Sunderland vs Newcastle: Mackems ‘deserving’
“This team deserves much more respect,” Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka told Sky Sports after his new club’s impressive start to the season following promotion continued.
“Where we are is amazing, because we are working very hard day by day. We deserve where we are.”
“Look at the faces, feel what it means, understand the enormity!” 🎙️
Sunderland have won the derby! pic.twitter.com/slip2bcGGI
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 14, 2025
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said defender Dan Burn had been taken to hospital with a potential rib injury the England international suffered during the first half.
Sunderland are next in action away to 10th-placed Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday (15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT), while Newcastle host Fulham in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday (20:15 GMT / 15:15 ET / 12:15 PT).
“Absolute warrior!” 💪
Micah Richards praises Granit Xhaka and says he is the signing of the season 👏 pic.twitter.com/GAbP1p07zs
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 14, 2025
Sunderland team vs Newcastle
Sunderland’s Reinildo Mandava returned following a groin issue, but fellow left-back Dennis Cirkin was not involved despite progressing in his return from injury.
Chemsdine Talbi and Brian Brobbey came in alongside Mandava, replacing Lutsharel Geertruida, Wilson Isidor and Luke O’Nien, who was serving the first match of a three-game suspension for being dismissed in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City last Saturday.
Habib Diarra was set to return to full training the following week after a groin injury but could feature for Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which starts on December 21.
Sunderland recreating the photo that Newcastle took last time the two teams met at the Stadium of Light 😅📸 pic.twitter.com/0hBjfecUja
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 14, 2025
“He will need probably one or two weeks to be at his best after a good rehab programme and after that it depends on AFCON,” assessed manager Regis Le Bris.
“We need to build his fitness level and after that, he will be ready. The decision is with the national team. If they want to select the player, they can. It’s not our decision.”
The Black Cats started the day 10th in the table and unbeaten at home in this season’s top flight.
Sunderland starting XI: Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele, Dan Ballard, Omar Alderete, Reinildo Mandava, Bertrand Traore, Noah Sadiki, Enzo Le Fee, Granit Xhaka, Chemsdine Talbi, Brian Brobbey
Sunderland substitutes: Anthony Patterson, Dan Neil, Lutsharel Geertruida, Chris Rigg, Eliezer Mayenda, Romaine Mundle, Wilson Isidor, Simon Adingra, Trai Hume
Newcastle team vs Sunderland
Joelinton was a doubt for Newcastle with a groin injury and was on the bench, Lewis Miley replacing the midfielder in the starting line-up.
Anthony Elanga replaced Harvey Barnes in attack. Striker Yoane Wissa had an illness but was among the substitutes.
Full-back Kieran Trippier (thigh) was out, as were goalkeeper Nick Pope (groin), defenders Sven Botman (back) and Emil Krafth (knee) and forward William Osula (ankle).
Newcastle were unbeaten in four matches in all competitions, including a 2-2 draw at Leverkusen in the Champions League four days earlier.
Newcastle starting XI: Aaron Ramsdale, Tino Livramento, Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall, Lewis Miley, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Elanga, Nick Woltemade, Anthony Gordon
Newcastle substitutes: John Ruddy, Fabian Schar, Joelinton, Yoane Wissa, Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock, Alex Murphy, Jacob Ramsey
Sunderland vs Newcastle stats
- Sunderland are unbeaten in their last 10 league games against Newcastle (W7 D3)
- That is their longest ever unbeaten league run in the history of the fixture, although they had lost the previous derby in all competitions 3-0 at home in an FA Cup third round tie in January 2024
- Arsenal are the only other team unbeaten at home in this season’s division, with Sunderland winning five and drawing three of their 2025/26 league games at the Stadium of Light
- They have more points at home this season (18) than they won across their last campaign in the top flight (14 in 2016/17)
- Newcastle have lost their last four away league games against Sunderland – more than they had in their previous 21 visits combined (W6 D13 L2)
- They’ve lost four in a row away to the Mackems for the first time
- The EFL Cup holders had scored and conceded a goal in each of their last eight Premier League games, last having a longer such run in the top division between December 1960 and March 1961 (13 games)
Premier League results and fixtures this weekend
Arsenal beat Wolves 2-1 at home on Saturday courtesy of Yerson Mosquera’s 94th-minute own goal, winning after Chelsea earned their first victory in four games in all competitions with a 2-0 home defeat of Everton.
Mohamed Salah came off the bench as reigning champions Liverpool beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0, and Fulham ended a two-match losing run with victory at Burnley.
All fixtures start at 14:00 GMT unless stated otherwise.
Saturday, December 13
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
Liverpool 2-0 Brighton
Burnley 2-3 Fulham
Arsenal 2-1 Wolves
Sunday, December 14
Nottingham Forest 3-0 Tottenham
Sunderland 1-0 Newcastle
West Ham 2-3 Aston Villa
Brentford vs Leeds United (16:30)
Monday, December 15
Manchester United vs Bournemouth (20:00)
