Sunderland 1–0 Newcastle: Premier League Match Report & Highlights

On: December 15, 2025 2:55 AM

Sunderland 1–0 Newcastle: Premier League Match Report & Highlights

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Sunderland vs Newcastle United – Match Summary

Sunderland secured a historic victory in the first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby in nearly a decade, defeating bitter rivals Newcastle United 1–0 at the Stadium of Light. In a contest defined by tension rather than quality, the decisive moment arrived just 59 seconds into the second half when Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade headed into his own net. The Black Cats, led by a colossal defensive performance from Dan Ballard, held firm to claim their fourth consecutive home league win over the Magpies, moving up to 7th in the table.

Sunderland vs Newcastle United – Final Score

Sunderland 1–0 Newcastle United

(HT: 0–0)

Goals:

46’ — Nick Woltemade (OG) (SUN)

Sunderland vs Newcastle United – Timeline & Events

22’ — 🧤 SAVE: The game finally sees its first shot as Enzo Le Fée has an effort blocked, before Granit Xhaka fires over from distance.
41’ — 🤕 INJURY: Newcastle defender Dan Burn is forced off with a muscular injury, replaced by Lloyd Kelly.
46’ — ⚽ GOAL! Disaster for Newcastle immediately after the restart. Nordi Mukiele whips a cross in from the right, and Nick Woltemade, tracking back, inadvertently heads the ball into his own net via the crossbar. (1–0)
57’ — 🟨 Card: Sandro Tonali (NEW) is booked for a cynical challenge on Isidor.
73’ — 🧤 SAVE: Aaron Ramsdale keeps Newcastle alive with a sharp save at his near post to deny Wilson Isidor.
90+4’ — 🟨 Cards: Tempers flare in stoppage time. Joe Willock, Wilson Isidor, and Malick Thiaw are all booked after a scuffle involving Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs.
90+7’ — 🤕 INJURY: Granit Xhaka leaves the pitch with a cut above his eye, leaving Sunderland to finish with 10 men.

First Half Analysis

The first half was a typically cagey derby affair with little goalmouth action. Sunderland controlled the tempo through Granit Xhaka but struggled to break down Newcastle’s shape. The visitors suffered a significant disruption when Dan Burn limped off, forcing a reshuffle in defense. Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested, as both sides seemed more afraid of losing than eager to win.

Second Half Analysis

The game turned on its head less than a minute into the second half with the freak own goal. Sunderland retreated into a disciplined low block, inviting Newcastle to break them down. Despite introducing Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy, the Magpies lacked creativity and failed to register a clear chance. Sunderland looked more dangerous on the counter, with substitute Wilson Isidor stretching the play. The hosts managed the closing stages professionally to seal the win.

xG Reality Check: Sunderland 0.85 | Newcastle United 0.62

The low Expected Goals (xG) totals reflect a game of few chances, ultimately decided by a defensive error rather than attacking brilliance.

Key Match Factors

The Own Goal: Nick Woltemade’s error was the defining moment, shattering Newcastle’s game plan immediately after the break.
Ballard’s Dominance: Dan Ballard won almost every aerial duel, nullifying Newcastle’s crosses and set-piece threats.
Newcastle’s Lack of Width: Without effective overlaps from their full-backs, Newcastle’s attacks became predictable and easy for Sunderland to defend.
Stadium Atmosphere: The home crowd at the Stadium of Light played a huge role, driving their team forward and putting pressure on the officials.

Player of the Match

🏆 Dan Ballard (Sunderland)

A monstrous defensive display. He was a rock at the back, making crucial clearances and organizing the defense to keep a clean sheet against their biggest rivals.

Sunderland vs Newcastle United – Player Ratings

Sunderland	Rating	Newcastle United	Rating
Roefs	7.5	Ramsdale	6.5
Mukiele	7.5	Livramento	6.0
Ballard (MOTM)	8.5	Schär	6.5
O’Nien	7.0	Burn	6.0
Reinildo	7.0	Hall	6.0
Xhaka	8.0	Guimarães	6.5
Le Fée	7.0	Tonali	5.5
Talbi	6.5	Gordon	5.0
Brobbey	6.5	Joelinton	6.0
Isidor	7.0	Woltemade	3.0

Sunderland vs Newcastle United – Match Stats

Stat	Sunderland	Newcastle United
Possession	46%	54%
Total Shots	9	8
Shots on Target	1	2
Corners	5	4
Fouls	14	12
Yellow Cards	2	3
Pass Accuracy	78%	81%

Top 5 Performers

Dan Ballard (SUN): Imperious in the air and on the ground.
Granit Xhaka (SUN): Controlled the midfield battle and showed great leadership.
Nordi Mukiele (SUN): His dangerous cross forced the own goal; solid defensively.
Robin Roefs (SUN): Assured handling under pressure, calming his defense.
Bruno Guimarães (NEW): The only Newcastle player who looked capable of making something happen.

Underperformers / Weak Links

Nick Woltemade (NEW): A nightmare debut in the derby, scoring the own goal and offering zero threat upfront.
Anthony Gordon (NEW): Completely marked out of the game by Mukiele.
Sandro Tonali (NEW): Struggled to impact the game and gave away needless fouls.

Substitutions Impact

Wilson Isidor (SUN): Replaced Brobbey and offered pace and directness on the counter. (Rating: 7.0)
Lloyd Kelly (NEW): Replaced the injured Burn but didn’t offer the same distribution from the back. (Rating: 6.0)
Harvey Barnes (NEW): Brought on to chase the game but found no space to operate. (Rating: 5.5)

Tactical Breakdown

Sunderland:
- Compact 4-2-3-1: Le Bris instructed his team to sit deep and frustrate Newcastle, hitting quickly through the wings.
- Set Piece Dominance: Defended corners superbly and looked dangerous attacking them.
Newcastle United:
- Narrow Attack: Failed to stretch the Sunderland defense, playing too centrally where Xhaka and Le Fée congested the space.
- Slow Tempo: Moved the ball too slowly to trouble a well-drilled Sunderland block.

What This Result Means

Sunderland: Move up to 7th place, overtaking Manchester United and eyeing European qualification.
Newcastle United: Remain stuck in 12th place, four points behind their rivals and under increasing pressure.