FIVE festive Tyne & Wear Derbys

Featuring two 24-hour crunches, high scoring clashes and a historical record that still stands.

Sunderland hope to give their fans the perfect early Christmas present when they host Newcastle in the first North East league derby for eight years on December 14. And it wouldn’t be for the first time.

With the Black Cats above the Magpies in the Premier League table after a flying start to life back in the top flight, the mood on Wearside is optimistic.

But any Sunderland fans still needing a confidence boost ahead of the visit of the old enemy can lean on some famous festive derby moments.

Here are five of the best December games that the Wearsiders have enjoyed over their nearest, not so dearest neighbours.

5) Turn of a century: Newcastle United 2-4 Sunderland – December 23, 1899

Starting with a rather old one, the third ever competitive Tyne-Wear derby gave many a Victorian Mackem plenty of Christmas cheer as the “Team of all talents” avoided a first-half scare to win their second derby in a row.

Bobby Hogg opened the scoring within the opening quarter before two quick-fire goals for Newcastle from Sandy MacFarlane and South Shields born Alec Gardener put the home side in front at half-time.

A three-goal salvo from Sunderland just on the hour via Hogg’s second, Tommy Becton and a third from Hogg ensured the striker cemented himself as the toast of Wearside as a new century arrived.

4) Two in two: Newcastle 2-2 Sunderland – December 26, 1951

There’s been plenty of recent chat about the dreaded December fixture congestion in the Premier League. But imagine what the likes of Jurgen Klopp and co would have made of back to back local derbies . . . in 24 hours..

After losing at home to Newcastle on Christmas day, Sunderland made the trip up St James’ Park just a day later to hold the home side to a 2-2 draw.

Jackie Milburn’s brace was cancelled out by goals from Billy Bingham and Trevor Ford to ensure Newcastle didn’t claim the bragging rights twice that season.

3) Christmas Day delight: Newcastle 2-5 Sunderland – December 25, 1914

The last entry wasn’t the only Christmas-Boxing day double as 36 years earlier Sunderland, two years after their second most recent First Division win, dominated the noisy neighbours in their second to last derby before the first world war stopped all competitive fixtures.

It was also the last set of derbies for long serving manager Bob Kyle who enjoyed a 23 year period as coach. 

A hat-trick for Bobby Best and a goal each for Charlie Buchan and George Phillips shadowed two own goals for the Black Cats before a next day trip to St James’ ended in defeat.

2) The Gus Poyet days: Newcastle 0-1 Sunderland – December 21, 2014

Here’s a more recent one, famously, two years before their double-dip Sunderland enjoyed arguably their best unbeaten streak against the old enemy.

With nine derbies unbeaten, including six wins in a row, this was their fourth in their winning streak. As their trip up the green-line started with Anthony Réveillère pulling up injured in the warm up, with Sebastian Coates coming in to reply.

1) Win the second half: Newcastle United 1-9 Sunderland – December 5, 1908

You’d do well to find a better single christmas fixture for a fanbase, as a Newcastle side sitting top of the old First Division fell to an incredible eight-goal second-half blitz.

An opening goal for Billy Hogg and a penalty response just on the stroke of half-time from Albert Shepherd preceded two more from Hogg, three from George Holley, a brace from Arthur bridgette and a single from Jackie Mordue to cap off what remains the highest-scoring – and possibly most remarkable – Tyne/Wear derby.