Chris Sutton has expressed concerns about Newcastle United going into the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland.
Newcastle’s demanding run of fixtures now takes them to the Stadium of Light for the first Premier League meeting between the rivals since March 2016. Sunderland have returned to the top division in strong form, remaining unbeaten at home this season, while Newcastle have managed only two away wins so far — against Union Saint-Gilloise and Everton.
Their draw with Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday means Eddie Howe’s squad have barely had time to recover, and Sutton fears that fatigue could heavily affect their performance.
Sutton predicts a Sunderland victory
Giving his weekly Premier League predictions for BBC Sport, Sutton said he expects Sunderland to come out on top in Sunday’s derby.
He feels Sunderland’s energy and pressing will overwhelm Newcastle, who have not beaten the Black Cats in the league since August 2011. Sutton believes that trend will continue, with Newcastle’s tiredness playing a major role. He highlighted how Regis Le Bris’s side showed their intensity against Arsenal, dominating the Gunners throughout. While Granit Xhaka has earned plenty of praise for his impact, Sutton also pointed out that Noah Sadiki has been one of the standout signings of the season.
Sutton added that he expects this to be the standout match of the weekend and anticipates a Sunderland win. Some derbies fail to match the hype, he said, but he believes this one will fully deliver.
Although he admires Eddie Howe’s approach and rates him highly as a manager, Sutton believes Sunderland will ultimately take the bragging rights.
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