Sunderland beat Newcastle United 1-0 on Sunday afternoon

Former Sunderland defender Micky Gray has claimed that Black Cats skipper Granit Xhaka was “head and shoulders” above anybody else on the pitch during Sunday’s Wear-Tyne Derby against Newcastle United.

Regis Le Bris’ men recorded a historic win courtesy of a Nick Woltemade own goal, ensuring that they are now unbeaten in their last 10 meeting against their bitter North East rivals.

And in his post-match assessment, Gray was quick to emphasise just how much the victory meant, as well as how impressed he was with Xhaka for his commanding performance in the centre of the park.

What did Micky Gray say about Sunderland win vs Newcastle United?

Speaking exclusively to The Echo, via Kasinohai, the pundit said: “Absolutely buzzing, we're jumping through hoops at the moment because you go into a derby game and no-one knows what the outcome's going to be, but whenever Newcastle come to the stadium, the nerves are jangling. But I think the nerves were very quickly settled when you see how Sunderland performed in the first half. They never really looked phased at any point in the game.

“Then, obviously, the start to the second half was when it all started to just go a little bit crazy with the own goal from Woltemade. But, overall, I think everybody in the North East, certainly the Sunderland side of it, is thrilled to pieces!”

Gray also highlighted a key moment in the first half in which Woltemade failed to find Anthony Gordon with a through ball as Newcastle threatened to catch Sunderland on the break, adding: “When you watch the game back or you think of things that happened in the game, that was probably key for Sunderland's perspective. Anthony Gordon, it looked like he had the whole football pitch to himself and Woltemade just needed to pick him out and you could see how frustrated Anthony Gordon was when that ball didn't reach him.

“It’s moments like that where you've got to live by the sword and die by the sword and, fortunately for Sunderland, it worked out for them where the ball didn't reach him. It was a bit of a let-off, to be honest with you.

“It had that feel about the game, that it would be decided by a moment of magic or a moment of madness. There weren’t too many clear-cut opportunities in the game, and you were thinking it was going to be a game won or lost by mistake.

“And, unfortunately for Nick Woltemade, he's in the right place but at the wrong time. Just a freak goal, really. He was obviously absolutely devastated, and you don't want to play in your first derby match like that and obviously be the scapegoat. But there has to be a villain at times, doesn't there?

“He's had a great start to his career at Newcastle and unfortunately he just found himself in that wrong position. He's just obviously back there trying to defend and clear his lines but obviously got his header wrong. When it just dipped over the top of Ramsdale in that Newcastle goal, the stadium roof nearly came off.”

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But it was Xhaka who Gray reserved the highest praise for, lauding the midfielder for yet another influential display in the centre of the park. He said: “What I would say about him is he was head and shoulders above everybody today. Dan Ballard, I thought, had a very good game and Enzo Le Fée as well.

“But I think when you look at the whole game, the control that the guy's got and the discipline that he's found in his latter years as a professional footballer, he's been a joy to have around the club. Just what an incredible signing he's been. His performance today was professional, he led like a captain and he dictated the pace that Sunderland wanted to play at. He was outstanding today, he really was.”

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