Eddie Howe has insisted that Newcastle United's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland in the Wear-Tyne derby will not define their season, despite the painful nature of the loss. The Magpies were undone by a spectacular own goal from Nick Woltemade in the second half, leaving them four points behind their promoted neighbours in the Premier League table.
Speaking after the match, Howe described the result as a 'horrible feeling' and 'very painful', but refused to let it overshadow the remainder of the campaign. 'It was not our finest game,' he said. 'Nothing is lost today, it was a game of very few chances settled by a freak goal and we couldn't create the openings we wanted.'
The defeat was compounded by Sunderland players posing for a celebratory group photograph on the pitch, a response to a similar incident in January 2024 when Howe's assistant Jason Tindall ordered Newcastle's players to do the same after an FA Cup win. Howe acknowledged the disappointment but focused on the broader picture, noting that defender Dan Burn was taken to hospital for X-rays on damaged ribs.
Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris expressed pride in his side's performance, calling the win 'well deserved' and praising their maturity under pressure. 'We were playing with the expectation of winning,' Le Bris said. 'Now we want to continue this dominance.'
The result leaves Sunderland seventh in the table, five places and four points above Newcastle, who have struggled for consistency this season. Howe remains confident that his team can recover, stating, 'The effort was there but the quality wasn't. We haven't delivered. It's difficult to take, but we will move on.'
