Sunderland beat Newcastle United 1-0 on Sunday afternoon...

Wayne Rooney has delivered a wide-reaching assessment of Sunderland’s Wear-Tyne Derby victory over Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon, claiming that the Black Cats were better than their visitors in “every department”.

Regis Le Bris’ men recorded a historic victory over the Magpies courtesy of a Nick Woltermade own goal, extending their unbeaten run in league fixtures against their neighbours to 10 matches.

And speaking on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England striker was quick to hail Sunderland for their battling display, as well as the atmosphere generated by the home crowd at the Stadium of Light.

What did Wayne Rooney say about Sunderland win over Newcastle United?

Reflecting on the match, Rooney said: “I loved it. I think just the energy, the passion, the atmosphere... It's one of them games - which I haven't watched many over the last few years - where, you know, you wish you were there. The atmosphere seemed great. I loved Sunderland doing the picture at the end as well, obviously getting Newcastle back for when they'd done it.

“But no, I thought Sunderland were really good, I thought Newcastle were poor. I don't know whether it was tactically - which I haven't seen them do much this season - where they sat deep in and let Sunderland come on to them, which I probably assume it was with the selection of Anthony [Elanga] and Anthony Gordon, but no, it was a great game and Sunderland, I felt, deserved to win. We've missed them games. You know, you have big derbies throughout the country and that's definitely up there with the passion from both sets of fans. So we've missed them games and just happy it's back.”

He continued: ”It looks like they will [stay], doesn't it? But I was one who feared for Sunderland, if I'm honest, at the start of the season. Obviously I played against them last season, but I think the signings they've made - and I wasn’t familiar with quite a few of them - they've come in, they've been excellent. The energy they're playing with, the quality as well. And [Granit] Xhaka, it looks like he's the one who's putting all that together and the leader in there. So I think from the owner, he's quite young, and the manager, it's been very detailed, what they've done, and it's paying off for them.”

On Le Bris, Rooney added: “I think with the manager, he brings a calmness to it because obviously with the atmosphere and the emotion around Sunderland, I think he brings a real calmness to it. I met him after we played last season and he's a really nice fella. Some managers you meet after a game and you don't always think that, but he's a really nice fella and dead humble and respectful. And so I'm really pleased at what he's doing.”

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Turning his attention to Newcastle’s lacklustre display on Wearside, Rooney said: “I listened to Eddie Howe yesterday talking and he was saying he was having to explain to some players about the history of this fixture and the passion of this fixture. And I don't know whether he's known that Sunderland were going to come with that [intensity] and whether he said, ‘Listen, let them come with it, but we have to stay composed to win the game’. And he's given that message, let's keep our composure.

“Because that Newcastle performance - Newcastle have been brilliant over the last few years - and that performance was unrecognisable to what you've seen with Newcastle throughout the last few years. So I was really surprised. I think both tactically and physically at Newcastle today, because I think Sunderland were, in every department, so much better than them.”

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