Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris expressed immense pride as his team secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at St James' Park, completing a Premier League derby double this season. The emotional win, sealed by Brian Brobbey's 90th-minute strike, propelled the Black Cats above their rivals in the league standings and delivered a significant boost to players, staff, and supporters alike.
Late Drama Seals Historic Double
The match began poorly for Sunderland, who fell behind just ten minutes in when Anthony Gordon capitalised on a defensive error from a short goal-kick. However, the visitors displayed remarkable resilience after the interval, with Chemsdine Talbi restoring parity with a well-taken finish. As the clock ticked toward full-time, Brian Brobbey fired home the decisive goal in the dying moments, snatching all three points and ensuring Sunderland repeated their 1-0 victory from December's Wearside encounter.
Le Bris Praises Team Composure and Consistency
In his post-match reflections, Le Bris emphasised the importance of this result for the club's collective spirit. "It's very positive, this win means a lot for us as a team, as a staff, for our fans as well," he stated. "Winning two games against Newcastle – and they play at a big level, they played in the Champions League last week – it means a lot. It's another stage and we want to get better day after day."
The victory arrives following a mixed period for Sunderland, who recently achieved their 40-point target with a win at Leeds before suffering consecutive defeats, including an FA Cup exit to Port Vale and a league loss to Brighton. Le Bris highlighted his squad's mental fortitude, noting, "Consistency is key, we had a bad run recently and really quickly the doubt can appear. I think we stayed composed because we trust the way we are working and consistency in this league is key. Winning at Elland Road was really important, winning at Newcastle means a lot as well."
Howe Reflects on Painful Defeat Amid Tough Week
For Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, the defeat compounded a bruising week that saw his side exit the Champions League with a heavy 7-2 loss to Barcelona in the last sixteen. Four days later, they suffered their thirteenth league defeat of the campaign, leaving Howe to describe the outcome as "very painful."
"Most of all painful for our supporters, they're the ones I think about now," Howe admitted. "I've got very little to use as an excuse, I don't want to go down that road – I have never believed in that method, once you haven't performed and you know the size of the game and you don't deliver. You expect to be criticised and you understand why, so I understand the reaction at the end of the game, we haven't done our jobs well enough today."
When questioned about his position and the path forward, Howe reaffirmed his commitment, saying, "I'm committed, I'm fully committed to the job. I'm disappointed in my delivery today and my delivery the last week. The Barcelona game was very tough, today is even tougher. I always, as I said after the Brentford game, absorb that blame myself. I don't look to deflect it anywhere else, certainly won't deflect it to my players, I protect my players until my last breath. That's how I look at it, it's going to be a tough, painful few days for me."
This result not only enhances Sunderland's Premier League position but also underscores the intense rivalry between the two clubs, with Le Bris's side demonstrating growing consistency and resilience in a demanding top-flight environment.
