Newcastle United breezed past Sunderland in the FA Cup on Saturday, and it is unclear when the two sides will meet again.
The FA Cup clash was the first Tyne-Wear derby since 2016, and it gave Newcastle their first victory in the fixture since 2011.
It was a comfortable one in the end, as the Champions League side beat the Championship team 3-0 to advance to the fourth round.
The occasion could not have gone any better for Newcastle. It was a routine victory as the Magpies secured bragging rights, and they celebrated in controversial fashion by taking their traditional post-win photo on the Stadium Of Light pitch.
The Tyne-Wear derby is back, but it is unclear when it will return. Alan Shearer hopes it is soon, and that is a sentiment shared by Toon defender Dan Burn. He is keen for the Black Cats to get promoted so he can experience the ferocity of a derby again.
And Sunderland captain Luke O’Nien has admitted that the feeling is mutual after experiencing one of the ‘greatest atmospheres and games in world football’.
Luke O’Nien speaks out after Newcastle beat Sunderland
Following Newcastle’s 3-0 win over Sunderland, Luke O’Nien took to social media to deliver a message to fans on Wearside.
He wrote on X: “Leading the boys out in a Wear-Tyne Derby was a dream come true, one that the 4-year-old me who started the game could never have imagined possible. Now that the emotions of Saturday’s result have settled, I wanted to express my gratitude. The pride I have for the team, the club, and the city of Sunderland is immense, especially for everyone who’s supported me since I moved here. Despite the painful result, the experience will stay with me forever. Experiencing one of the greatest atmospheres and games in world football is what we players strive for in our careers. Encountering this level of atmosphere and being part of the magnitude of this game was a glimpse of what we want weekly. We aim to take this club back where it belongs, making it our daily mission for the fans and the city. Although we didn’t get the desired result, it fuels our daily motivation to bridge the gap until this club matches the fans’ passion and history once again. Thank you for your incredible support. We have 20 big games ahead of us.”
Sunderland need to ‘bridge the gap’ to ensure more Tyne-Wear derbies
The gap between the two clubs is seismic. Sunderland barely had a sniff against Newcastle, who breezed through a game that had been giving supporters sleepless nights.
It was a reminder of the gulf between the two clubs. Yes, they are local rivals, but they are worlds apart in terms of quality at the moment.
That is no surprise. It was only last year that the Magpies were competing in the Champions League with the best Europe has to offer. As for Sunderland, they have not competed in the Premier League since 2017.
But O’Nien is keen to ‘bridge the gap’ between the two clubs, and they will certainly be a bit closer if Sunderland achieve promotion this season.
That is O’Nien’s hope, and it is one shared by Alan Shearer and Dan Burn. They want more Tyne-Wear derbies, just like O’Nien.
But the responsibility lies with Sunderland to make that happen, as we are going nowhere.
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