Sunderland were back in Premier League action for the first Wear-Tyne derby in almost a decade at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon.
Nick Woltemade’s own goal in the second half was the difference between the two teams, as Sunderland made it ten league games unbeaten in the derby. Here’s how we rated all of the Black Cats involved on the day...
1. GK - Robin Roefs
Didn’t have many saves to make but so calm in his distribution and in how he dealt with set pieces. Excellent coming off his line to deal with set plays. 8 | Chris Fryatt
2. RB - Nordi Mukiele
Some performances can’t be measured in stats alone. Mukiele delivered a performance of immense personality, dominant in the air and especially late on in his duels. Whipped in a glorious cross that Woltemade headed into his own goal. 9 | Chris Fryatt
3. CB - Dan Ballard
Defended brilliantly late on in particular. Missed one first half chance but was excellent and demonstrated exactly how far he has come since the last time the two sides met. What a player. 8 | Getty Images
4. CB - Omar Alderete
Defended well and was a big part of the clean sheet, though no doubt that he got away with a few rare lapses on the ball. 6 | Chris Fryatt