Sunderland's top goalscorers vs Newcastle United in the Premier League
We've taken a look at Sunderland's top Premier League goalscorers vs Newcastle ahead of Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby.
For the first time since March 2016, the Tyne-Wear derby returns to the Premier League as Sunderland host Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
Much has changed in the near-decade since the top flight was last graced with this fixture, but that will only serve to increase the atmosphere even further. Perhaps surprisingly to some, Sunderland are unbeaten in their last nine meetings with Newcastle in the Premier League - winning six and drawing three - with the last such defeat coming back in August 2011. The Black Cats have always given as good as they’ve got against their local rivals, but which players have contributed most to the cause?
Here are the four Sunderland players to register more than one Tyne-Wear derby goal in the Premier League:
4. Niall Quinn - Sunderland goals vs Newcastle: 2 in 9 appearances
One of the greatest players to wear a Sunderland shirt during the Premier League era, Niall Quinn’s game was about bullying defenders and bringing his teammates into play, rather than being a clinical goalscorer himself. He was the perfect foil for Kevin Phillips.
However, Quinn still managed to grab two derby goals in the Premier League, the first an equaliser in a 2-1 comeback win at St. James’ Park in August 1999, the second the deciding strike in a win by the same scoreline and on the same ground just over a year later. Between those two fixtures, Quinn also managed an assist for Phillips as Sunderland came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against the Magpies at the Stadium of Light.
3. Jermain Defoe - Sunderland goals vs Newcastle: 2 in 3 appearances
Jermain Defoe enjoyed plenty of success against Newcastle throughout his career, scoring eight goals in 24 Premier League appearances, of which he won 10, drew six and lost just eight. Two of those goals came during his time at the Stadium of Light, and they were important ones.
The first was just before half-time to seal a 1-0 home win for the Black Cats in April 2015, lifting Sunderland to 15th place in the table at the time, ultimately helping them toward safety. The second was in his final derby appearance for the club, opening the scoring in an eventual 1-1 draw at St. James’ Park in March 2016, as Sunderland once again scraped themselves just outside the relegation zone. There were numerous reasons to love Jermain Defoe during his time at the Stadium of Light, and these two featured high among that list.
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2. Adam Johnson - Sunderland goals vs Newcastle: 4 in 7 appearances between 2012 and 2016.
1. Kevin Phillips - Sunderland goals vs Newcastle: 4 in 6 appearances
As mentioned, Phillips forged a legendary partnership with Quinn during their time together at Sunderland, which helped him become the club’s record Premier League goalscorer on 61 - 27 ahead of nearest rival Defoe.
Four of those goals came against Newcastle, making Phillips one of just two Sunderland players to score more than twice against the Magpies in the Premier League. Three of Phillips’ four goals came in his first two derbies, first netting the winner in that same 1999 comeback win that Quinn bagged in. Later that campaign, Phillips scored both goals in that aforementioned 2-2 comeback draw at home, the first set up by Quinn, the second by Kevin Kilbane.
After a two-derby drought, Phillips haunted Newcastle one more time in August 2001, opening the scoring at St. James’ Park, only to see Craig Bellamy salvage a 1-1 draw for the hosts. Phillips’ only two wins in 13 career appearances against Newcastle came as a Sunderland player, while the 1-0 loss at home in 2002 on his final derby appearance for the club was his only defeat in six Tyne-Wear clashes.