Derby day. The most nervous day of the year. Winning is everything, losing unthinkable. As Newcastle prepare for their latest battle with ‘them over the road’, it’s time for a quick look at the Tyne-Wear clashes in the Premiership.

Our first stop on the journey takes us to 1996/7, the last ever derby at Roker Park. Newcastle fans were banned from the game, with fans not brave (or mental) enough to brave the home end having to watch the game at a beamback at local cinemas. Sunderland went 1-0 up when Robbie Elliott tripped Agnew and Jeff Winter awarded a penalty, which was scored by Martin Scott. Early in the second half, Peter Beardsley headed home a Les Ferdinand cross to put the scores level, before a few minutes later Ferdinand himself headed past Coton. The score ended 2-1 (we always win 2-1 etc), to give Newcastle their first Tyne-Wear derby win in the Premiership.

In the return match, Sunderland were the first to score, with Michael Gray netting on the half hour (needless to say, it wasn’t a penalty). Mulleted Frenchman Lionel Perez gave a star performance in goal for Sunderland, until Alan Shearer levelled from close range in the 77th minute after Barton knocked down Ginola’s cross from the left.

It wasn’t until three seasons later until the sides met, in the rain, in a match which resulted in that dreaded scoreline. Kieron Dyer gave Newcastle the lead on 27 minutes (his hamstring showing unusual resilience), slotting past Thomas Sorensen in the Mackem goal. Niall Quinn headed home on the hour, with conditions resembling the local swimming pool, but the match continued. Shearer was finally brought on by Gullit, but it was far too late, as Phillips snatched a winner near the end.

Later that season saw Sir Bobby Robson’s first derby as a manager, as Newcastle made their first visit to the Stadium of Light. Newcastle were 2-0 up within 20 minutes, after goals from Didier Domi and Helder gave us a comfortable lead. That combination of Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn struck again, as Phillips reduced the deficit. And with 7 minutes remaining, Phillips scored again, to make the scores level and to make him the number one enemy on Tyneside.

The second of those fateful 2-1s now, which cemented Sunderland’s position as ‘Top Dogs of the North East’, the trophy which only comes out when Mackems (or Smogs) do well and we don’t. Four minutes in, Gary Speed headed a cross against the post, and managed to put in the rebound to make it 1-0. Twenty minutes away from the final whistle, Don Hutchinson pulled the Mackems level, before Niall Quinn gave Sunderland their second win in as many years. However, Newcastle had a chance to make it level, being awarded a penalty towards the end. However, as we all know, Sorensen guessed the right way and managed to keep it out. Heartbreak followed, but luckily, since then, it has been a bit happier for Newcastle.

The next game served to banish some of those demons, at the Stadium of Light. A tense 1st half saw no goals, but they took the lead on 67 minutes when Patrice Carteron (who?) somehow got round the back of Wayne Quinn and beat Shay. In one of Bobby’s magical triple substitutions, Sir Bobby brought on Andy Griffin, who set up the equaliser, which Andy O’Brien tapped in the back of the net, securing his place in Newcastle’s musical history. The game ended 1-1, and Andy O’Brien’s 15 minutes of fame had arguably vanished forever.

The next game took place at St James’ in the 2001/02 season. Nemesis Kevin Phillips opened the scoring, heading past Given in front of the Gallowgate in the first half. Two minutes before half time, Laurent Robert played a beautifully measured ball over the top and Craig Bellamy ran onto it and fired past Sorensen for his 1st Premiership NUFC goal. The second half was frustrating, and despite Shearer’s return from injury on 75 minutes, we couldn’t score a winner, as the game ended 1-1.

The reverse fixture was a Sunday game at the Stadium of Light. The first hour was incredibly tense, with neither side being able to score, and Shay Given producing some top class saves. Just past the hour Laurent Robert whipped in a free kick, which Nikos Dabizas buried into the back of the net, causing mass celebrations. A brilliant late Shay Given save from Ratboy ensured that the three points would be going to Tyneside, and Sir Bobby recorded his first Tyne-Wear derby day victory.

Over to the Mackems’ (original) record breaking 2002/03 season, and the first game at St James’, a relegation six-pointer!. Newcastle were 19th prior to the game, with Sunderland one place above. Eighty seconds in, Shearer was fouled by Bjorklund, but the ball ran for Dyer who released Bellamy. An excellent advantage was played by referee Mike Riley, Bellamy scored, and Bjorklund was booked after the goal to rub salt into red and white wounds. Five minutes before half time, Shearer as fouled just outside the area. After receiving a lay off from Solano, a heavily bandaged Shearer netted the free kick to seal a 2-0 victory.

Just a few minutes into the return fixture in April 2003, referee Steve Bennett disallowed an Alan Shearer goal, and then the match became fierce. Eight bookings were given out, and just before half time Bellamy was fouled and a penalty was awarded. Solano converted it in the absence of Shearer, who was off recieving treatment for his battle scars. A nervy second half followed, which culminated in Sunderland having a goal disallowed near the end. Bennett correctly penalised an infringement by Tore Andre Flo on Shay Given whilst Kevin Kyle headed in. Newcastle survived and held on for a vital win, on our way to third place.

Having gone down as the worst team ever in the world ever (like the Anti Carlsberg of the football world), and then failed in the playoffs the following season, Mick McCarthy got them back into the Premiership for the 2005/06 season, and the 1st derby of the season was at St James’ in October 2005. After a tense opening half hour, Ameobi leapt like a salmon to head Charles N’Zogbia’s corner beyond the despairing dive of Kelvin Davis. However, almost straight from the kick off, Liam Lawrence’s shot from range deceived Given to level the scores. Despondency turned to joy 60 seconds later as another N’Zogbia cross was forced home by a combination of Shola and ex-Mag Steve Caldwell to restore our lead. The “Easy, easy” chanters were too busy mocking the mackems high in the corner to notice Stephen Elliott fire another superb equaliser 4 minutes before the break. In an unbelievably nervy second half, Emre gave us the lead for a third time with a free kick just after the hour, and we held on despite appeals for a penalty as Lawrence tumbled under a challenge from N’Zogbia (which were waved away by referee Rob Styles) and a crossbar being struck.

By April 2006 everything had changed on both sides, for Souness and McCarthy had been sacked to be replaced on a temporary basis (so we thought) by Roeder and Ball, and we had charged up the table to move into contention for a European place, while the mackems had outdone their incredibly pathetic efforts of their previous Premiership campaign. We kindly gave them some false hope with an appalling hour of ‘football’, while on-loan Justin Hoyte (probably their only good player, from Arsenal) gave them the lead in the first half. Michael Chopra replaced Lee Clark on the hour, ran straight into the box, crashed into a couple of people and bundled an equaliser into the net. Seconds later, N’Zogbia charged into the box and was fouled, with referee Chris Foy pointing to the spot, allowing Alan Shearer to score the final goal of his career in front of his people in the away end. Another couple of minutes later it was 3-1 as N’Zogbia again charged forward and shot brilliantly past Davis, before Big Al’s career came to a sad end as he collided with Arca and went off injured at the SoL again. The craziness wasn’t over as 2 mackems ran into each other, allowing Sir Albert Luque the opportunity to open his Newcastle account and finish off the humiliation for the wearsiders, as they again managed to break all records and go down as worst team ever in the world ever.

Well, the Tyne-Wear derby has taken us on a route through highs and lows, failure and success. The big game is ahead on Saturday, so remember, sing your hearts out for the Toon if you’re there, and HOWAY THE LADS. There really is nowt like the derby. If this has shown anything (only if, mind), it’s that derby games are hard to predict (the last 4 clashes aside) and that anything really can happen.

OVERALL PREMIERSHIP DERBY STATS

AWAY STATS
Played 6
Won 4, Drawn 2, Lost 0
Scored 11, Conceded 5
Points 14