What Paul Robinson spotted Sunderland fans doing to Nick Woltemade in Newcastle win
Sunderland fans were spotted giving Nick Woltemade a standing ovation when he was subbed off in their 1-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday.
The Magpies striker scored the only goal of the game as he headed the ball into his own net early in the second half.
This proved to be the deciding factor, with Sunderland earning a deserved victory at the Stadium of Light.
As a result, many Black Cats supporters were quick to thank the striker for being the difference-maker as they picked up their first Tyne-Wear victory since 2015.
Paul Robinson: Sunderland fans were giving Nick Woltemade a standing ovation
Despite Newcastle being the favourites going into the Sunderland fixture, this did not show on the pitch, with the hosts dominating the Magpies for large periods.
However, quality in front of goal was lacking for both sides, and it appeared that a potential 0-0 was on the cards when half-time hit.
Nevertheless, Woltemade, who is normally scoring up the other end, made Sunderland fans’ dreams come true with a cracking header into his own net.
The Stadium of Light is rocking in the derby… because Nick Woltemade has just headed into his own net! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/tNQKgyGdlM
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 14, 2025
It was an awful match for the striker, and he was eventually hooked 75 minutes in.
Watching the match on BBC Radio 5 Live on 14 December, Robinson was quick to spot what the Sunderland fans were doing when he was subbed off.
He said: “Some Sunderland fans have given Nick Woltemade a standing ovation.”
Granit Xhaka: Sunderland deserve more respect
The result has now seen Sunderland rise to seventh in the Premier League table and are just two points off fourth.
It has been a remarkable return to the top-flight for the Black Cats, who now look like European contenders despite being widely tipped for relegation at the start of the season.
Granit Xhaka, who was one of the stars of the show at the Stadium of Light, spoke to Sky Sports after the match, insisting that Sunderland deserves more respect.
He stated: “Derbies are here to win. It doesn’t matter how, I know how painful it was two or three years ago losing here.
“They motivate us, because of this, much more than before.
“This team deserves much more than this respect because where we are is amazing. We work very hard and deserve to be where we are.”
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