BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ on Newcastle United after 1-0 Sunderland defeat

Interesting to read through these BBC Sport comments, following on from Newcastle United losing 1-0 to Sunderland.

The comments from neutrals especially telling…

A lot of it different to what Newcastle United fans had come to expect from the BBC Sport ‘neutrals’.

The BBC Sport comments from neutrals in the past had been overwhelmingly a catalogue of abuse aimed at NUFC supporters.

Particularly stuff about the Newcastle United owners and the media-inspired pile-ons that NUFC fans have become used to, when blamed for who now owns their club.

On this occasion the politics entirely absent, concentrating instead on matters on the pitch and neutrals enjoying Newcastle United losing a match!

The BBC Sport readers comments from neutrals, some Newcastle supporters and plenty Sunderland fans also contributing:

‘I didn’t think there was much in the game, no real chances for either team.

Newcastle probably did what they set out to do, as did Sunderland.

Without the freak own goal it would likely have been 0-0 and everyone been satisfied’

‘I hate to applaud any Newcastle goal as a Sunderland fan but that Woltemade goal was an absolute worldie.’

‘I turned it on just as they showed the replays, I assumed at first that he was scoring for Newcastle. Outstanding header.’

‘Only quality in whole game.’

‘MOTM for me was the ref. Let the game go and ignored the minor stuff. They cop enough flak so they deserve credit when they get it right.’

‘I thought the opposite. Lots of cheap shots and two yellow card offences by the Sunderland centre forward, the worst of which was ignored.’

‘He was shocking. I`m an ex-ref.’

‘Apart from failing to send Brobbey off for a CLEAR second yellow card!’

‘Too many Newcastle players bottled it today.’

‘Game full of passion from Sunderland,but Newcastle just didn’t turn up.

And that was one of the best own goals ever.

The support from Sunderland fans was brilliant as usual.’

‘All you could hear on the TV were Newcastle fans, even at 1-0 down.’

‘Just proves that it isn’t a derby despite what both sets of fans say.

Derbies are games that are played every season (take us (Liverpool) and Everton) not once in a generation.’

‘Derby don’t play Forest every year. Same with Bristol City and Rovers. Makes the games even bigger.’

‘Sunderland werent that great. Hardly troubled the keeper and needed an own goal to score. Least they won their cup final’

‘I feel for the home supporters watching that tripe every home game.1 shot on target from a home player in a home game???’

‘Really well done done to Sunderland, i’m a Chelsea supporter (all my life from 6yrs old, i’m now 60) but i love seing these boys in the Prem, deservadly so, and taking on teams and doing em’ get in there you “Mackem’s” sorry if i spelt it wrong ‘

‘Isn’t it great to have the derby matches back. Now just need the smoggies back up and we can enjoy an extra couple of them. Ha’way the lads.’

‘How many shots did Sunderland have on target? Hahah, relying on an own goal to get a result at home.’

‘I really think Newcastle could’ve done without the statement of being “the best in the world” or whatever before this game. Sunderland taught them a lesson they’d do well to take on board.’

‘We’ll have to console ourself with our continuing Champions League campaign and our fourth successive Carabao Cup (of which we are the holders) quarter final.

Not to mention all the games we will win in the Premier League between now and the end of the season to propel us above Sunderland ‘

‘Newcastle utd can be proud to support English football…. sunderland couldn’t name one English player in the STARTING 11.’

‘Well done , from a leeds fan!’

‘NUFC, a prime example of a team that thinks they are better than they really are.’

‘We think we should be higher than 12th, yes. We still have our sights on 5th, and made up a bigger gap than we currently face to achieve that last season.

Remember Newcastle, unlike Sunderland, haven’t been beaten by more than 2 goals this season. Both our 2-goal defeats needed late stoppage-time goals to avoid being 1-goal defeats.’

‘Dream on.’

‘Newcastle have actually achieved things, won a trophy and played in the champions league on several occasions.

You have beaten them in a game, and deservedly so.

However Newcastle by far a bigger Premier league tradition and saying dream on, as if they haven’t done these things and have no chance of doing them again, is silly.

And im not a fan of either team.’

‘Today Sunderland played like a Scottish derby team on something.

A terrible game and that’s why I despise the NE derby.

No football loving fan would want to see that dross – either way of the result.

One day I hope to see good quality football from this rubbish derby.’

‘NUFC are nothing special and if you think getting into Europe means much ask Leicester.’

‘Very silly comment. NUFC been in Europe many more times than eg Leicester over the past 30 years. You know why they got into Europe so many times? You can work that one out alone if you’re inclined.

A hard-fought win for Sunderland today. Well done. They’ve not been in Europe once over that same 30 years period. Any ideas why(?)’

‘I will always look at the positives and there will always be a lot of positive to look at!

We’re not in the Mike Ashley days any more.’

‘Howe has form for putting these little runs together. It doesn’t even have to be 6 in a row – 3 in a row, then a draw, then 3 more in a row will be absolutely fine.

Newcastle are capable of it. Neither Wissa nor Woltemade are fully up to speed with Newcastle’s systems and their team-mate’s moves but every week that familiarity grows, and if we ever get a free week, Howe can work it.’

‘A decade may have passed but nothing has changed.

It feels as though Newcastle are once again that team scrapping to avoid relegation and no fight or desire to beat their arch-rivals.’

‘Well that was a terrible game to watch and devoid of any quality at all. It deserved 0-0 as neither team created anything of note. Wish I’d watched Forest vs Spurs instead.’

Sunderland 1 Newcastle 0 – Sunday 14 December 2025 2pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Sunderland:

Woltemade OG 46

Possession was Newcastle 54% Sunderland 46%

Total shots were Newcastle 6 Sunderland 5

Shots on target were Newcastle 2 Sunderland 1

Corners were Newcastle 6 Sunderland 3

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 14 Sunderland 14

Newcastle team v Sunderland:

Ramsdale, Livramento, Thiaw, Burn (Schar 42), Hall, Tonali (Willock 59), Miley, Bruno, Gordon (Barnes 59), Woltemade (Wissa 75), Elanga (Jacob Murphy 59)

Unused subs:

Ruddy, Joelinton, Alex Murphy, Ramsey