Sunderland

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini has reacted to photos from the Stadium of Light that show a Newcastle United rebrand of the Black Cats bar for the FA Cup third round Wear-Tyne derby.

Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle's football phone-in Total Sport, Marco said: “Unbelievable. I think is probably the word."

"I mean, there’s making money and then there’s making money. We’ve got a group that have taken over the club who you would think, after the last lot we had, had a bit more knowledge of how football goes. How football works.

"There are people from the region on the board. The owner was involved in one of the biggest rivalries in French football with his family’s club and we’ve opened ourselves up to this. I just do not believe it to be honest.

“We talk about the football, the club and in the football season to make your stadium your fortress. All of those old cliches. Okay. This is different. This is corporate business. It’s making money but at the same time, it’s our place.

"It’s our castle. It’s embarrassing. This will be mentioned in 50 years time."

Listen to more reaction on Total Sport here.

Sunderland AFC have released a statement responding to fan criticism after photos emerged of the Black Cats Bar being rebranded for Newcastle United ahead of the derby including a sign that read "Cheer up Peter Reid."

The statement via the club website says: "Sunderland AFC acknowledges that a serious error in judgement was made in relation to Black Cats Bar earlier this afternoon.

"We apologise to our fans for the understandable concern they have fairly voiced in response and this sentiment is shared by the Club’s Ownership Group and Board of Directors, who have requested an immediate review is undertaken to determine how this process unfolded.

"A direct decision has also been taken by the Ownership Group and Board of Directors to return the space to its original state and we once again apologise to our supporters that this was not addressed sooner."

How do you feel about the club's statement? Have your say here.

Matthew Raisbeck and Nick Barnes, who commentate on the Magpies and the Black Cats for BBC Radio Newcastle, deliver inspirational speeches to their respective teams before their FA Cup third-round tie on Saturday.

Listen to full match commentary of Sunderland v Newcastle on BBC Radio Newcastle, with build-up on BBC Sounds from 11:00 GMT.

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle striker Callum Wilson says the Wear-Tyne derby is a "serious game" for all of the club's fans.

The sides meet on Saturday in the FA Cup third round, having not played each other since March 2016.

"Back in the day when I watched the Wear-Tyne derby and you see [Jermain] Defoe scoring [for Sunderland] and you are just thinking, it means so much to Magpies to beat Sunderland," Wilson said on BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport podcast.

"In a derby like that, your league position goes out of the window, it does not make a difference as they are going to play out of their skin and raise their game to another level.

"We need to be thinking it is not going to be easy and we are going to beat them as we are Newcastle, as all of a sudden this game is a serious game for a Newcastle fan."

The spectacular volleyed winner in 2015 remains one of Defoe's career highlights, indicating the importance of the derby.

He said: "It was just a crazy feeling and sometimes it is hard to put into words how you feel when you score a goal against anyone.

"But when you score against Newcastle and how I scored, it was just an unbelievable feeling. It was just such a long build-up and I knew how important the game was, but something just came over me when I scored the goal and the roar was just crazy.

"It was a special day and that is why I got emotional as I knew I did something special and something people would be talking about for a long time."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes alongside his Mag equivalent Matthew Raisbeck have delivered derby speeches ahead of the FA Cup third round clash.

What would you say to the Sunderland players ahead of the big day? Let us know here.

• Sunderland have won their past two FA Cup ties against Newcastle United, though this is their first meeting in the competition since 1955-56.

• Newcastle are without a win in their past nine meetings with Sunderland (D3 L6 in the Premier League between 2012 and 2016), since a 1-0 away win in August 2011. This is their longest winless run against their north-east rivals.

• Sunderland have won their past three home games against Newcastle. They have never won four in a row against the Magpies.

• Sunderland have been eliminated from their past four FA Cup ties against Premier League opponents. When playing in a lower division, they haven’t beaten a Premier League side in the competition since January 2005 (2-1 v Crystal Palace).

• Newcastle have lost their past four FA Cup matches. They have gone out at the third-round stage in the past three seasons, after suffering defeats against opponents from lower divisions in the past two.

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live match commentary of Sunderland v Newcastle at 12:45 GMT on Saturday

Some 14 FA Cup ties will be available to either watch or listen to live on the BBC over third round weekend, which runs from 4 January to 8 January.

We'll bring you four televised matches across BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Red Button - with all also available to watch on the BBC Sport website and app.

And you'll also be able to listen to 12 commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

Thursday, 4 January

• Crystal Palace v Everton (20:00) - 5 Live

Friday, 5 January

• Fulham v Rotherham United (19:30) - 5 Sports Extra

• Tottenham v Burnley (20:0) - 5 Live

Saturday, 6 January

• Millwall v Leicester City (12:30) - 5 Sports Extra

• Sunderland v Newcastle United (12:45) - 5 Live

• Gillingham v Sheffield United (15:00) - 5 Live

• Southampton v Walsall (15:00) - 5 Sports Extra

• Middlesbrough v Aston Villa (17:30) - 5 Live

• Chelsea v Preston (17:30) - 5 Sports Extra

Sunday, 7 January

• Peterborough v Leeds United (14:00) - 5 Live

• Luton Town v Bolton Wanderers (14:00) - 5 Sports Extra

Monday, 8 January

• Wigan v Manchester United (20:15) - 5 Live

All kick-off times listed are GMT

We asked for your thoughts on what business Sunderland should do in the January tranfer window.

Here are some of your comments:

Jonah: Yann M'Vila, send Burstow back, send Hemir and Bennette on loan, buy a striker.

James: Every effort should be made to keep Clarke and bring Amad Diallo back to the club, no matter how temporary.

Dave: We need a confident striker who can make the most of our opportunities and turn them into goals. Maybe then our 60 percent plus possession in most games will turn into points.

George: Buy Lawrence Shankland, NOW.

David: Jordan Rhodes would be ideal. On loan at Blackpool from Huddersfield, scored 15 so far this season. Ok they play in League One, but he has proved himself at a higher level. Huddersfield have an option to recall him back in January, but a big offer could pay off. He scores goals, just what we need.

Reuben: Would like to see the departures of: Triantis (loan), Matete (permanent), Dack (permanent), Ba (loan), Bennette (loan), Hemir (loan) and Burstow (termination of loan). Would like to see a centre back, Omobamidele, a sitting midfielder (Rothwell or M'Vila), Amad, a proven Championship striker (Obafemi) and a more promising striker (Ali Al-Hamadi).

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland head coach Michael Beale has spoken about the Wear-Tyne derby and the opportunity Dan Neil has to prove he belongs in the Premier League.

As a local lad and academy graduate, Neil has a unique appreciation for the importance of games against the Mags. The midfielder is also reportedly a target for a number of top Premier League teams this January.

Talking to BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes, Beale says the derby game is "important" for Dan and his progression.

"Dan’s a fantastic player. There’s a lot of eyes on Dan because he’s got a lot of potential. Hugely important player in our squad and I’ve been super impressed with him since I joined the club.

"It’s important for him that he focuses on his game and plays well because this is the level he wants to play at regularly, you know, against these players.

"He’s going to go in and challenge himself against international midfielders and I think that Dan, from what I can see, has more than enough potential to go and play at that level regularly and so this is an opportunity for him this weekend.

So, push everything else aside and play the game that’s in front of you. I think that’s what the best players do. They find a calmness where other players maybe are not able to do that.”

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Beale has spoken to BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes ahead of the Wear-Tyne derby this weekend.

Some of the head coach's key points ahead of hosting Newcastle in the FA Cup third round included:

• Importance of focusing on the work put in for months and not changing things for one game.

• Young players' first derby experience an opportunity to prove they belong in the Premier League.

• Luke O'Nien's "exaggerated" reputation and how he has matured as captain of the club.

• Trai Hume isn't a "hard man" but possesses abilities as a full back which are dying in the modern game.

• Dan Neil has "a lot of eyes on him."

• Derbies are hugely important to football.

• The FA Cup is the best cup competition in the world.

You can listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.

Listen to the Total Sport Sunderland AFC Podcast here.

We asked for your views on Sunderland's 2-0 win against Preston North End.

Here are some of your comments:

Dave: Great result. Pritchard outstanding. Ekwah brilliant. Clarke usual torment. Good solid defence.

Linda: Happy for the lads to get a win! Pritchard brilliant and pleased we played with a striker at last! Rusyn hopefully will gain confidence with the goal. Hope he is given the chance.

Milo: Huge relief to have a striker finally score. Very good performance in the first half, second half was a bit too slow and lackadaisical but a win will do the job. Bring on the mags now...

Fletch: Comfortable win against a poor Preston outfit, Pritch, the two ex-West Ham lads & Neil stood out for me, bring on the black & whites.

Mel: If the argument for a balance of experience and raw talent is a successful combination then Alex Pritchard's performance against Preston confirms it. He clearly inspires and guides the young talent.

Steve: Great game. Pritchard was outstanding. Second goal well worked and credit to the ref for playing the advantage after a foul on Jack Clarke. Second half saw Preston on the front foot but showed that Sunderland can defend when needed. Well done lads.

Image source, Getty Images

Dan Neil has spoken to BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes after the Black Cats beat Preston North End 2-0 on New Year's Day.

Listen on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Beale has spoken to BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes after Sunderland's 2-0 win against Preston North End.

Listen on BBC Sounds.

Sunderland are now unbeaten in three games after Michael Beale's side won against Preston North End at the Stadium of Light.

Nazariy Rusyn got his first senior goal for the Black Cats after a stunning strike for Alex Pritchard.

Give us your thoughts on the performance and the result here.

• Sunderland have won just one of their last eight league games against Preston (D2 L5), a 3-0 away win in May 2023.

• Preston North End are looking to secure a league double over Sunderland for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign.

• This is the seventh time Sunderland and Preston have met on New Year’s Day, meeting five times between 1894 and 1914 (four Sunderland wins, one draw) and most recently in 2005, a 3-2 win for Preston under Billy Davies.

• Sunderland have won just one of their last six league games on New Year’s Day (D2 L3), a 1-0 win at Blackpool in 2019. This is their first on home soil since 2018 when they lost 1-0 to Barnsley.

• Preston have lost their last three league matches on New Year’s Day, with this their first since 2020 when they were beaten 2-0 by Middlesbrough.

New Year, same iconic commentary notebook from BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes.

The Black Cats host Preston North End at the Stadium of Light for the first Championship game of 2024.

You can listen to commentary from Nick alongside former Black Cats captain Gary Bennett on FM, DAB and Freeview via BBC Radio Newcastle.