Gary Neville delivers verdict on Sunderland after Newcastle United win – and makes striking fan admission

Gary Neville has backed Sunderland’s Wear-Tyne derby victory and questioned Newcastle United’s approach, describing the Magpies’ tactics as a gamble that backfired badly on a major stage.

Speaking on his podcast after attending his first Wear-Tyne derby in person, Neville was critical of Newcastle’s performance and mindset, particularly given their status and recent European pedigree.

“I just thought the way Newcastle approached the game, I say negative - it was a tactic that I think if it goes wrong and you're a big club and a Champions League team, it really looks bad,” Neville said. “Particularly when you're playing a lesser team - as in lesser quality, lesser sort of experience in the Premier League.”

The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.

Neville also addressed Sunderland’s summer recruitment, referencing their significant transfer outlay and the expectation that comes with it. “Look, it wasn't a great game in respect of quality,” he said. “It was a Newcastle team well below their best. Sunderland, again, I didn't think were fantastic.

“But I thought their two centre-halves, Alderete and Ballard, their two central midfielders Xhaka and Sadiki, those four and actually Brobbey up front as well - I thought the spine of the team for Sunderland were really good. And the spine of Sunderland's team were better, in my opinion, than the spine of Newcastle's team.”

Neville reiterated that Sunderland’s spending naturally raised the bar in terms of expectation, but felt the derby showed signs of why that investment is starting to pay off. “For Sunderland, I said from the very first game of the season - when you come up from the Championship - look, they've spent £160million, so we need to mention that - that is a hell of an investment so there should be some return,” he said.

Keep up with the action from the new Premier League season and sign up to The Echo’s dedicated SAFC newsletter

“But players who I think can compete, players who are physical, players who can run from box-to-box - I didn't think their wide players played particularly well yesterday, I didn't think Traore or Talbi were great, or Le Fee, I didn't think were fantastic. But I did think the spine of their team were really strong and determined. And I think if you've got a good spine in the Premier League, ultimately, then you can carry the rest of your team.”

Neville concluded that Sunderland were worthy winners on the day, highlighting both the atmosphere inside the Stadium of Light and the significance of the occasion for supporters. “Sunderland deserved to win. It was an incredible atmosphere: before the game was sensational, when the goal went in it was sensational, at the end of the game was absolutely fantastic,” he said.

“The Sunderland fans when I left 40 minutes after the game, I could still hear them, they were still chanting and singing in their thousands. At the end I was stuck in the car park for 40 minutes, which is the usual thing as they close the roads to let away fans [out]. So what a great day, a great night for them. It's the first night like that they've had for many years. It's a great record in this game recently as well. It was great to be at my first Wear-Tyne derby.

Your next Sunderland read: 46 photos of amazing Sunderland fans at Stadium of Light ahead of Wear-Tyne clash vs Newcastle United