Black Cats are currently unbeaten in seven matches at the Stadium of Light, ahead of the visit of their local rivals
Sunderland are hosting Newcastle on Sunday in the first Tyne-Wear League derby in nearly a decade, and manager Regis Le Bris expects to have the edge at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats have put in strong performances at home since their return to the Premier League this season. They are currently unbeaten in seven matches at the Stadium of Light.
“We’ve had good experiences at the Stadium of Light this season,” Le Bris said. “It was loud, and I expect that it will be louder against Newcastle.
“So far, the players use this energy really well, to change the dynamic of the game when needed. I hope that will be the case once again.”
Sunderland have won six games and drawn five of their 15 matches played so far this season, leaving them currently ninth in the table. It is a performance that has fortified hopes of the Black Cats staying up this season.
Getting a good result against local rivals Newcastle, who have won three of their last four games, will further increase confidence.
“We are playing Newcastle at home, so it’s a privilege,” said Le Bris. “We are so happy to live this experience at the Stadium of Light against one of the best rivals in the league. At home, we have this advantage, and we have to make the most of it.”
While Sunderland are currently unbeaten in seven matches at home, Newcastle have managed just one win in seven on the road. The Magpies have not beaten Sunderland in the league since 2011. They won 3-0 at the Stadium of Light in the FA Cup last year, but Eddie Howe expects a much tougher affair this time around.
“It will be difficult,” Howe said. “These games always are because there’s a lot of emotion and challenges for the players to overcome. We need to make sure we enter the pitch in the right frame of mind, focused on how we play and what we need to do.
“There will be some new players who maybe don’t understand it as well as others, so we’ll use whatever methods we can to make sure everyone enters the pitch fully aware of the importance.”
