Regis Le Bris has named who will be the underdogs when Sunderland and Newcastle United meet at the Stadium of Light.
Newcastle United are heading to Wearside for the first Tyne-Wear derby in the Premier League since March 2016, and will start the game beneath Sunderland in the table.
The Black Cats have performed exceptionally well since promotion, picking up 23 points from their first 15 games. They are also unbeaten at home, as Eddie Howe attempts to become the first away manager to win at the Stadium of Light this season.
- Tyne-Wear derby: Newcastle United record vs Sunderland ahead of the first Premier League encounters in a decade
How are you feeling about the derby? 👀
I'm already a nervous wreck!
The pressure is very much on, while Newcastle United also have to deal with fatigue just a few days out from drawing in the Champions League with Bayer Leverkusen.
But while Sunderland have been backed to win by Chris Sutton, Regis Le Bris is eager to ensure his side sees themselves as the underdogs on Sunday.
Regis Le Bris insists Sunderland are ‘underdogs’ against Newcastle United
Speaking to the media ahead of Sunderland vs Newcastle United, Le Bris addressed the challenge his team face against an established Premier League club that compete in the Champions League.
“It will be another exciting challenge,” he said, as reported by the Chronicle.
“If we look back five or six months we were a newly promoted side. Now we have 23 points and we’re playing Newcastle at home.
“We’ll go into the game with humility but excitement. It will be a new story, teams have changed. The evolution of the club, Newcastle are strong and are well established in the Premier League. They played in the Champions League two days ago.
“We’ll be the underdogs. We have to have this mindset, if we have this mindset that the game will be easier because we’ve had a good start, it will be a problem.”
It doesn’t look like we’re wearing black and white on Sunday – how do you feel about that?⚫⚪
At least it's not the green kit, think of it like that!
Newcastle United must silence the Sunderland supporters
Given their start to the season and never say die attitude, Sunderland certainly will not fear Newcastle United. Their fans will not either, having seen their side pick up impressive results against the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea this season.
It will be an electric atmosphere inside the Stadium of Light – the kind of occasion when tackles are cheered as if they were goals.
That is something that Eddie Howe must be mindful of. Having used the St James’ Park crowd to his advantage on so many occasions, now the Newcastle United manager must work out how to silence the Sunderland supporters.
That will come from controlling possession and dictating the game. Newcastle United cannot afford to let Sunderland get on top and give the home crowd encouragement.
Managing the crowd will be key for Newcastle United, as they go in search of their first Tyne-Wear derby win in the Premier League since August 2011.
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