Jeff Stelling takes coward’s option over Sunderland and Newcastle comment – ‘Got to be joking?’
Jeff Stelling has gone against the grain with his prediction for Sunderland’s clash with Newcastle.
After nine long years, the Wear-Tyne derby returns to the Premier League this Sunday, as Sunderland take on Newcastle United.
The Black Cats are yet to lose a league game at the Stadium of Light, while the Tynesiders have won just once on their travels in the Premier League this season.
Stelling expects Sunderland to maintain that unbeaten run, with a prediction that can certainly be seen as an easy way out.
Stelling predicts 35-year first for Sunderland vs Newcastle
Sunderland’s encounters with Newcastle are by far the fiercest the Premier League has to offer, and it will be no different this year round.
The Black Cats sit one point above the Magpies heading into Sunday’s clash, with Sunderland unbeaten in league competition against Newcastle since 2011.
Granit Xhaka has already spoken passionately about the derby, with both sets of fans just as excited as they are nervous.
Newcastle are favourites to take all three points off Sunderland, but Stelling believes something far more boring is in store.
Via talkSPORT, he said: “This will be a passionate, heated affair. The noise at the Stadium of Light will hurt your ears.
“If you think I’m picking a winner from this one, you must be joking. Sunderland 0-0 Newcastle.”
If that prediction were to come true, it would be the first goalless draw between these two sides since 1990.
Who is in better form ahead of the Wear-Tyne derby?
Sunderland’s form does not look good on paper, having won just one of their last six in the Premier League.
That was their 3-2 win against Bournemouth, when Brian Brobbey made history for Sunderland as they came from two behind to win a game for the first time ever in the top flight.
However, within those six games is a draw to Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton, with defeats to Fulham and Man City.
Newcastle, on the other hand, have lost just one of their last six, with that being a 2-1 defeat to Marseille in the Champions League – a game in which Kyril Louis-Dreyfus was in attendance.
The Magpies are certainly the side in better form, but as everyone knows, when it comes to derby day, that goes out the window.
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