Live on Sky Sports 1: Sun 12:00. Sunderland are 6/4 as they entertain 2/1 rivals Newcastle (19/10) in the televised Sunday lunchtime game in the Premier League
It’s the Tyne-Wear derby on Sunday and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Sunderland are currently stranded at the foot of the Premier League table, although Sam Allardyce is possibly the best man to resurrect their fortunes.
Victory over Newcastle would be priceless for several reasons and bet365 offer 6/4 that the home fans are celebrating at the final whistle, just as they did in the fixture last season when Jermain Defoe scored a spectacular winning goal.
Allardyce will be attempting to follow his several predecessors who have managed to secure the bragging rights for Sunderland in recent years, with the Wearside club winning the past five derby matches despite their season-on-season struggles under Paolo Di Canio, Gus Poyet and Dick Advocaat.
Bet365 offer 10/1 that the Black Cats win the derby by a 2-1 scoreline, with Paddy Power offering 9/2 about Sunderland with a -1 goal handicap which means victory by a two-goal margin is required for this bet to win.
Naturally, the supporters would gratefully accept any kind of victory, although Newcastle arrive off the back of a 6-2 victory over Norwich City so confidence levels will have increased at St James’ Park following a similarly poor start to the campaign.
Steve McClaren’s team are 19/10 (BetVictor) to build on that triumph by landing the spoils at the Stadium of Light, with the Magpies looking to work their way out of the relegation zone and improve on away form which has seen them land just one point and score one goal.
The draw can never be ruled out in a Tyne-Wear derby, with Stan James going 12/5 that the game ends all square and a 1-1 draw has been well-backed at 11/2 with Ladbrokes. That result would certainly please the visitors more given their respective league positions right now.
Jermain Defoe is a 5/1 chance (William Hill) to break the deadlock again, although perhaps the aerial threat of Steven Fletcher makes him a better prospect at 11/2 (BetVictor). For the visitors, Georginio Wijnaldum scored an amazing four goals against the Canaries and he’s 9/1 (bet365) to be the first name on the scoresheet, with Ayoze Perez available at 13/2 (Winner.com).
If you think Newcastle can avoid defeat in Sunday’s derby, then Stan James offer 8/15 about the Magpies with a +1 goal start, which means a draw or a victory for the visitors, would be enough to win on the bet.
There might have been eight goals scored at St James’ Park last weekend, although we’re expecting this match to be a tight affair and Under 2.5 Goals can be backed at 20/23 (BetVictor). Allardyce will want his team to be defensively tight like they were at The Hawthorns and a 1-0 triumph for Sunderland is on offer at 17/2 (bet365).
Will Newcastle take the sort of attacking approach that ultimately yielded dividends against Norwich? Odds of 500/1 (William Hill) are available that United claim another 6-2 win over their arch-rivals, while a more modest 3-2 victory can be backed at 33/1 (Winner.com).
The Magpies to be leading at half-time and full-time is available at 4/1 (BetVictor), while Newcastle HT Sunderland FT is a 28/1 chance (Sky Bet) which would naturally have to involve at least three goals in order to happen.
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