Can Sunderland avoid relegation? Seven-in-a-row would make a Yes more likely

Ye olde days
Ye olde days

Parts of Salut! Sunderland are a bag of nerves as the Tyne-Wear derby approaches. Six-in-a-row will count for nothing if Newcastle United end the run; even a draw may end up being insufficient depending on the result in WBA-Norwich on Saturday and, more important still, the outcome of Norwich’s forthcoming home games against both us and Newcastle. Here is an assessment of our chances, and how others rate them, from Noah Sparrow

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Tyne-Wear derby: when Niall, Shearer and Sorensen broke Newcastle hearts

Derby day winner: can Fraizer Campbell emulate his 2000 achievement?

This piece brought precious little good fortune in October 2010, when Sunderland came a distinctly poor second in last season’s Tyne-Wear derby. But since we’re often accused of harking back more than a century to the 9-1 game, let’s remember our most recent win at St James’ Park. Ouch: it’s now 11 years … just a little fun, reproduced for the larger audience Salut! Sunderland has these days …

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1: Sunderland 2: Newcastle United 3: Middlesbrough – could we live with that?


That was not quite how David Athey* had the running order. David is Monsieur Salut’s cousin and a lifelong Newcastle supporter. He’s all for passionate rivalry but the pipe dream suggested in the headline (once re-arranged to suit his tastes) reflects a deeper view, that the North East looks a little sad when those passions descend into pure hatred …

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