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Martin Wanless predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Newcastle 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Granit Xhaka
A big, big day on Wearside. This is a huge game in our resurgence — and a win here could be the cherry on top of what’s been an exceptional 2025.
It’ll be a tough game, but I’m hoping beyond hope that we can get the win today, which will be worth more than three points.
First scorer? Xhaka to lead by example in a tense, tight and nervy win.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 06: Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola, head coach of Manchester City, speaks with Granit Xhaka of Sunderland after the Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images) Getty Images
‘The Champion’ Malc Dugdale predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Newcastle 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Wilson Isidor
The Lads have had a full week off to rest, recover and train ready for today. They’ll be ready for battle and baying for blood after the disappointment of a 3-0 loss away to Manchester City last weekend.
That passion for victory should especially be the case against this collection of over-entitled pond life, who seem to think since winning the League Cup, they’re even more of “the dog’s nob” than before, and it’s our turn to wake up this bunch of self indulgent, tree-felling, oppressive-regime-loving saddos.
We’re back, we’re on the up, and you’re next. Can you deal with the 2025/2026 version of Sunderland AFC? I don’t think so.
Monologues aside, Newcastle have had a wee resurgence of late, closing the points gap behind us well, but they’ll be tired from their midweek Champions League game and I’m sure they’ll have absolutely no idea about the wall of red and white which is about to hit them at 100mph.
Isidor is going to get our first for me, using his pace against a less-than-mobile backline — including Dan “The Tanker” Burn.
Dan Ballard will get a second early in the second half to get his own back for that deflected own goal in the cup game, and we’ll cruise the rest of the game without incident, wondering what all the fuss was about.
I’ve manifested it, lads. Go and do it. It’s nothing less than you’re capable of.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 06: Wilson Isidor of Sunderland looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images) Getty Images
Jack Howe-Gingell predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 3 Newcastle 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Enzo Le Fée
Are you nervous yet? Because they are.
It’s to our great credit that we go into this game one point ahead of our rivals and I’m sure that despite the usual nonsense spouted, they know they’re coming into a real game after a slow start to their Premier League season.
I expect it to be a physical, fast-paced affair. They like to mix it (see also: “cheat”) and can break with speed, so our midfield maestro Granit Xhaka will be pivotal in keeping us organised and driving us on against a set of robust players.
Another tiring trip for Newcastle in midweek to drop points again at Bayer Leverkusen will have taken its toll, and we have to take full advantage of that. Having Noah Sadiki and his outrageous energy against a team who’ve already played once this week looks even more dangerous now — thank the red and white gods that those yellow cards were avoided.
I fancy Le Fée to follow in the footsteps of Patrice Carteron and Djibril Cissé, with a tenacious display and a sumptuous goal to go with it.
The Stadium of Light has proved a fortress so far this season but on Sunday, we prepare for war.
Sunderland’s Enzo Le Fees scores their side’s first goal of the game from a penalty during the Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Picture date: Saturday November 29, 2025. (Photo by Steve Welsh/PA Images via Getty Images) PA Images via Getty Images
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Newcastle 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Noah Sadiki
All the noise this week has been from them: excuses, downplaying it and pretending they’re not rattled. But they know exactly what’s waiting at 2:00pm: a Stadium of Light that’s been itching for this.
We look built for this battle; Granit Xhaka running the show, Dan Ballard and Omar Alderete as solid as granite, and Noah Sadiki ready to outrun every black and white shirt in sight. Hit them early, win the duels, keep the tempo high, and this is our game to grab.
I fancy Sadiki to spark it off: press, pinch it, slot it, bedlam.
Derbies come down to desire. And this time, it’s our lads who want it more.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 10: Noah Sadiki warms up in the Gym ahead of a Sunderland AFC training session at The Academy of Light on December 10, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images) Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
Score prediction: Newcastle 2 Sunderland 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Dan Ballard
Forget the years spent lost in the doldrums of League One. Forget the sneering Mags who laughed at our misfortune and forget the 0-3 in the FA Cup, because this time, we meet them as equals.
The superiority complex runs deep on the dark side of the North East and the narrative is that this is their “third most important game of the week”.
That’s fine. Underestimate us at your peril, because I have no doubt these lads know exactly what this means to the fans.
This is their chance to write themselves into folklore and to become heroes on Wearside.
Get into them, f**k ’em up!
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 6: Daniel Ballard of Sunderland lines up before the Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) Visionhaus/Getty Images
Score prediction: Sunderland 5 Newcastle 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Dan Ballard
We’re going to come out all guns blazing and score three before Newcastle actually realise they’re playing.
They’ll come out in the second half the better team, score a goal, and Granit Xhaka will rally the troops to punish them further until the ninetieth minute.
Sunderland’s Northern Irish midfielder #05 Daniel Ballard (L) and Sunderland’s Moroccan midfielder #07 Chemsdine Talbi (C) vie with Manchester City’s Belgian midfielder #11 Jeremy Doku with during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 6, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / AFP via Getty Images
Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Newcastle 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Dan Ballard
Form and league position can go in the bin — it’s ninety minutes decided by who wants it more, a bit of quality, and a bit of luck.
For occasions like this, we have the players I want in my team: Granit Xhaka, Dan Ballard, Omar Alderete, Nordi Mukiele, Reinildo, Noah Sadiki…and I could go on.
I have full confidence in the Lads that they understand the importance of this game and how much it means to the fans and the city. And they’ll certainly feel that on the day, just when they thought they understood.
As long as they show the unwavering commitment on the pitch that we’ve seen already, and strike a balance with their emotions, I believe we’ll win this match.
Ballard getting the first goal would be immense and a signal of how far he’s grown since the last time.
The Mags don’t get to play this fixture down now it’s here and tell us we are over the top, whilst it’s not as big a game for them — you’re not fooling us.
There’s too many receipts out there, and we’re here to collect.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 06: Nordi Mukiele of Sunderland reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images) Getty Images
Brett Lyons-Davis predicts…
Score prediction: Sunderland 3 Newcastle 0
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Granit Xhaka
FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES – Image numbers 2250408959, 1930445603) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Regis Le Bris, Manager of Sunderland (L) and Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United. Sunderland and Newcastle United, known as the Tyne – Wear derby or the North East derby take place on December 14,2025 at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, England. ***LEFT IMAGE*** MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 06: Regis Le Bris, Manager of Sunderland, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** . NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – JANUARY 13: Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St. James Park on January 13, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) Getty Images
The boys did OK for the first third of the game at Manchester City, but when we were undone by a deflection and then a set piece, it rapidly became clear this run was simply too much with tough games in quick succession. The third City goal was quality that we simply can’t argue against. Lovely stuff — sadly against us and not by us.
We had some great chances for Enzo Le Fée, Granit Xhaka and Wilson Isidor and on another day, two or even all three of them would’ve gone in rather than narrowly missing, hitting the woodwork or being saved.
It was a step too far to face Liverpool and City away and so close to each other, but we left with our heads held high, and now we need to focus on the big one.
Robin Roefs of Sunderland saves the ball during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Sunderland at the City Ground in Nottingham, England, on September 27, 2025. (Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images
Most of the lads went for either a loss or a draw, with the odd outlier, which brought in just a few points for a few of the team.
No points for first scorer as nobody went for a loss to nil, either.
Predictions Table And Standings
Minor moves in the table only, with only four points between sixth place and top.
Four points is exactly what you get for the right score and first scorer.
Easy for anyone to rally across Christmas, then!
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 6: Enzo Le Fee of Sunderland has a shot during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images) Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
How the points are awarded
Just a quick reminder of how we allocate points to our match-by-match predictions:
- Correct score = Three points
- Correct outcome (but not correct score) = One point
- Correct first Sunderland goalscorer = One point (no goalscorer is a valid call)
- Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting on time = a two-point deduction.
