Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction after Sunderland 1 Newcastle 0

Sunderland 1 Newcastle 0 – Sunday 14 December 2025 2pm

Newcastle United fan/writer reaction from some of our regular contributors on The Mag.

Nat Seaton:

‘Well no one would have written that script.

Writing this from the back row of the away end on a desperately disappointing day, where we never threatened to take control of the game, albeit we didn’t deserve to lose it.

Unfortunately, THAT GOAL will go down in derby history and be replayed for years to come.

We never threatened enough and had too many of our attacking players way under par.

It is a hard one to take and I usually look for the positives (even when we lose) but for the first time this season I can’t think of one.

A cup quarter-final win might just be the best antidote to this feeling of disappointment.’

Matt Busby said…:

‘Well, that was very disappointing.

We did not play well. We did not fancy it. They were up for it and we weren’t. Something definitely not right with the way we were set up and we got what we deserved.

It’s a pity the aggression we showed when receiving three yellow cards in injury time hadn’t been on show in the previous 90 minutes. Quite pathetic really.’

Simon Ritter:

‘None of the Newcastle United players fulfilled his potential.

I have no idea whether any of the opposition players did.

They did not manage a shot on target until 26 minutes after going ahead. By then we had registered three or four without forcing their keeper to make a difficult save.

Woltemade will be blamed for the decisive moment but the goal can be traced back to a weak defensive header by Schar, followed by a weak attempt at a clearing header by Gordon.

Too many crosses were not stopped at source, too few Newcastle players imposed themselves. We finished the first half on the back foot and we didn’t change the momentum until after conceding.

The referee “let the game flow”, which played into our opponents’ hands. Predictably, tempers boiled over in stoppage time. On another day, with a different referee, a red card or two would have been shown before that bout of handbags.

This result will not define Newcastle United’s season. We can change the narrative on Wednesday by qualifying for the semi-final of the League Cup we proudly hold.

Will the chief coach make some tough calls and omit stars who are regarded as undroppable for a big, big game?’

Mark Jankowski:

‘Utterly toothless display.

We’ve conspired to lose a game where the opposition failed to have a meaningful shot on goal.

Their only effort on target came through a speculative effort well after we’d done Sunderland’s work for them.

This will sting until we can put things right later in the season.

We’ve got bigger games on the horizon but the disappointment of today will linger for a while.’

GToon:

‘Dunno what to say about that tbh.

We all feel the same.

Gutted for BDB and BNW.

It almost feels like we didn’t lose. They did nowt but won the game.

I think we need to have a rethink about lumping the ball forward to BNW as he isn’t a target man.

I think we also need to work on getting crosses in from the left hand side. I also think when we are chasing the game and we have them penned in, we need a creative player to break the opposition down and thread a pass. We have Bruno and that’s all.

We also don’t seem to have much luck at the minute.

Maybe this team needs a refresh. A bit of trading and a refocus. Who knows. Hopefully Eddie does.’

David Punton:

‘A black day.

A poor display and a freaky way to lose to that mob,

We’ve had some great days under Eddie Howe’s management but this season has been a slog.

We have to keep going though, it’s a long season.

We’ve lost and we just have to take it on the chin.’

Billy Miller:

‘Why do we turn into a team of amateurs when we play Sunderland in the Premier League?

We didn’t show any fight until the 93rd minute.

Sunderland looked hungrier, feistier and more energetic in the first half.

We played a bit better in the second but conceded a naff goal and have handed over bragging rights for the next three months.

It’s days like this that I’m relieved I don’t live in the North East.’

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