Sunderland

We asked for your views after Jack Clarke's reaffirmed his happiness to stay at Sunderland following transfer speculation in January.

Here are some of your comments:

Tom: Well said Jack lad, "Money isn't the be all and end all."

Charlie: I’m pleased with that, Jack has years left in him to be a Premier League player and hopefully he will do it with Sunderland in the near future.

S: A remarkable young man and an even more remarkable player. What an asset to the club. I don’t think we are good enough to go up and we will probably lose him before we do and we can’t blame him when we cash in.

Jed: Jack Clarke is fast becoming a Sunderland legend and is vital to our hope for a play-off place. He goes past people for fun. If we have Patrick Roberts fully fit we can beat anyone. Fingers crossed.

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Michael Beale has shared his thoughts on Sunderland's 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough.

The Black Cats head coach told BBC Radio Newcastle's Nick Barnes, "I thought first half we were really good in terms of our attacking play.

"Again, we've missed a big opportunity in an away game and you're wondering if that's going to hurt you.

"In the first half, we got into some really interesting areas without executing. I was pleased with the first half performance. I thought both teams went for each other. It was a good Championship game.

"We started the second half not well. We've just spoke about that in there. Can't start a second half like that. Again, a second phase of a set-play. It is a bit of a fortunate ricochet but you can't keep conceding off a set-play, it's fair to say.

"Our reaction to that was really good. We score and then I felt in the last ten minutes maybe we should go on to get the winner. Just frustrated that them balls are flashing across the goal and we're not there to get the last touch but I think it's a big point. We don't know how big until later in the season but after last week's win and then a strong point here today.

"Certainly when it looked like the game was going away from us, our response after we scored I thought was excellent."

Listen to the full interview here.

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Leo Hjelde has spoken to BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes after making his debut for the Black Cats.

The Norwegian said, "It wasn't something I was expecting but it was something I was hoping for, so yeah, very pleased with the news and yeah, it was great."

On the draw with Middlesbrough, Hjelde reflected, "I felt like first half we should have put away a couple of chances to be honest.

"We started the second half a bit scrappy. So, we just had to dig in and obviously after the goal it's a bit tough.

"They had the momentum but it felt like we brought it back and at the end we probably could have got something more but pleased with one point on the road."

Through the interview we also found his favoured position, wanting to get forward and working hard to stay in the team:

"My preferred position is centre-back but listen, like, I'll play anywhere. If the gaffer wants me to play striker, I'll play striker.

"For me, it's just getting game time, being involved in the squads and in the team so for me I was very pleased."

"We know Clarkey likes to go 1v1 so, they said like sit back a bit and control the game but obviously when the opportunity comes I like to get forward and be involved in the play."

"I'll work as hard as I can and try and stay in the team, hopefully. We've got a great team here as well so it'll be tough competition for the places but I'm ready for what my job is and hopefully we can get the work done."

Hjelde has also spoken about quickly settling in at Sunderland:

"The coaching staff and the players have been really, really great with me. I've settled in quite quickly. Obviously it's a young dressing room so it's quite easy for me."

"I love him [Luke O'Nien]. Very vocal, helps me out when I need a couple words. I sit with him in the dressing room. It's been great so far. Hopefully I don't get on his bad side for sure."

What did you think of Hjelde's debut for Sunderland? Have your say here.

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Michael Beale says Dan Ballard is "fine" after an injury scare at the end of Sunderland's draw with Middlesbrough.

The defender looked to have hurt his shoulder in the closing minutes of the Championship clash but the Black Cats' head coach has confirmed there was no injury.

"Nah he's fine. He's fine.

"I think the big lad [Josh Coburn] came on and just started fouling people.

"Another really good performance from Dan Ballard today. I thought he was excellent throughout.

"No, he'll be alright. He's not a southern softy, Dan. He's a strong one."

Listen to Michael Beale's full post-match interview here.

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Jack Clarke has reaffirmed his happiness at Sunderland after transfer speculation throughout January - including multiple bids from Lazio.

After the Black Cats' draw with Middlesbrough, in a post-match interview with Sky, Clarke said, "I am happy to be here.

"I enjoy every minute of playing for Sunderland and pulling on the shirt. For me, the stuff that gets said on the outside doesn't seem to bother me.

"As long as I'm coming in everyday wearing a Sunderland shirt, I'm happy."

How do you feel about Clarke's comments? Have your say here.

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BBC Radio Newcastle commentary duo Nick Barnes and Gary Bennett praised Sunderland's comeback against Middlesbrough as "a good point on the road."

The pair noted substitutions, especially Boro's, changed the game in the Black Cats' favour.

Former Sunderland captain Benno said, "We talked about Barlaser. He was pulling the strings wasn't he? They took him off.

"We were glad to see the back of him and you've got to say, all of a sudden Middlesbrough maybe lost their way which allowed Sunderland to get back into the game."

After a strong first half from Michael Beale's side that saw Abdoullah Ba's effort on goal cleared off the line, the Black Cats struggled in the second half.

In the post-match assessment Benno accused Pierre Ekwah and Jobe Bellingham of a lack of effort, he said, "at times they're just strolling through the game."

It was Sunderland substitute Nazariy Rusyn who netted the equaliser.

Barnesy said, "I didn't see that coming from Rusyn. I thought he was going to take the ball on and take it in and have a shot."

Benno replied, "I think that shows a little bit of confidence he's got, to take a shot like that. Excellent."

The pair agreed Boro keeper Tom Glover should have done better before saying the away point is a good platform to go into the upcoming clash with Plymouth.

Sunderland came back from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

Super sub Nazariy Rusyn's second senior Sunderland goal equalised for the Black Cats after Marcus Forss netted for Boro.

January signing Leo Hjelde made his debut for Michael Beale's side and Patrick Roberts came on as a substitute after returning from injury.

The point takes Sunderland to 8th in the Championship just one point off the play-off places.

What did you think of Sunderland's performance and the result? Have your say here.

We asked for your views on whether Middlesbrough v Sunderland is a derby.

Here are some of your comments:

Bob: As a Sunderland supporter, playing Middlesbrough has a little more interest, but never a derby.

Richard: A little bit. Middlesbrough are the 'third' North East side.

Alex: It's a tough subject. Both fans bring masses to the games,but there is never really anything in the games. No tifos or explosiveness. They are still local and tensions are high between them. Overall it is more than just another fixture but it isn't the biggest derby you'll ever see.

Rob: Of course it’s a derby. Sunderland’s nearest team is Newcastle, who are in a different league. Middlesbrough’s nearest rival is Sunderland.

John: Boro are historically a Yorkshire town. Their derby should be with Leeds or Sheffield. Sunderland v the mags is THE derby as we have been fighting since 1650 with the round heads and cavaliers. How do Boro compare just because they are 25 miles down the road just shows how ignorant they really are.

Sunderland travel to Middlesbrough this Sunday with revenge in mind after a 4-0 loss in the reverse fixture.

As ever there'll be arguments as to whether the Wear-Tees is a derby or not.

In the eight year absence of a Wear-Tyne derby, the rivalry with Boro has heightened as the Black Cats have faced the Smoggys more regularly and are now rivals in the race for play-offs too.

However, all that surrounded the FA Cup third round clash with the Mags, any fixtures with Boro have paled in comparison. So, we all know it's not the derby for Sunderland, but is it a derby at all?

Do you feel any extra passion for the lads to beat Michael Carrick's side, or are they just like any other club in the Championship?

Have your say here.

Kristjaan Speakman has reflected on Alex Pritchard's Sunderland exit after the midfielder joined Birmingham City on transfer deadline day.

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Jay Matete has made his Oxford United debut.

The midfielder was substituted on in the 89th minute during the U's League One clash with rivals Reading.

It's Matete's first competitive appearance this season after the 22-year-old suffered an injury during the Black Cats' pre-season campaign.

Matete joined the Oxford on loan from Sunderland on transfer deadline day.

• Middlesbrough are looking for their first league double over Sunderland since the 2016-17 Premier League campaign.

• Sunderland have won just two of their last 26 league visits to Middlesbrough (D8 L16), winning 1-0 in the 1996-97 season and 2-0 in 2005-06 campaign.

• Middlesbrough lost 6-1 to Chelsea in their last game, the second leg of the League Cup semi-final. On the last 15 instances they have conceded six goals in a match, they have remained undefeated in their very next game (W8 D7) since last losing in September 1954 (lost 6-1 to Ipswich, then lost 3-0 to Rotherham).

• Sunderland have only won one of their last nine away matches in the Championship (D3 L5), a 1-0 win at Hull City on Boxing Day.

• Abdoullah Ba has assisted three goals in his last three Championship appearances – he only registered two assists in his first 52 league games for Sunderland.

Michael Beale has shared his thoughts on Sunderland's transfer business during the January window.

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has revealed why Eliezer Mayenda was allowed to join Hibernian on loan for the remainder of the season.

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John Wenham of the Lilywhite Rose podcast joined BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport to give insight into Romaine Mundle's time at Tottenham and what Sunderland can expect from their new winger.

“He had a really interesting development plan at Tottenham. He was effectively the reserve for your now star player Jack Clarke. He wasn’t getting a lot of game time until Clarke departed the club to join Sunderland.

"He then came in at left-wing and had a really interesting and phenomenal really development over an 18-month spell where he became the star player of our under-21s team to the point where Tottenham offered him a new long term contract.

"He turned that down to explore other options and ended up signing for Standard Liege who in turn despite him not making many appearances out there have turned a decent profit on him. He’s only been in Belgium for six months.

“Had he renewed at Tottenham, I’m sure he would have been loaned out. His form last season was really attracting a lot of attention.

"I presume he just received an interesting financial offer and his agent suggested he took that but if the question arises why did he struggle in Belgium I think the issue might be that he never had a loan away from Tottenham. All he knew was Tottenham and the academy set up there.

"He was training with the first team towards the back end of last season. I think Tottenham were doing everything in their power to convince Romaine to renew and stay at the club but for whatever reason that didn’t happen but in terms of his playing style he’s a really exciting, get-you-off-your-seat type winger.

"When he gets the ball people are excited about what’s going to happen next because he’s got pace, he’s got power, he’s got trickery and he has a trademark shot where he cuts in and bends into the far right hand corner. That was a common goal but if there was something he’s got to work on, it is still that end product of laying off the ball at the right time. He can be a little selfish.

"So, hopefully Sunderland fans will give him time because I think you’ve got to remember he’s not played a lot of senior football and it is a huge transition from academy football into the levels of the Championship.

"I never heard anything bad about him. I watch a lot of games and I know of lot scouts and agents down at Tottenham and yeah, he was very much a well-liked chap. He will obviously be friends already with Dennis Cirkin who’s at the club and also Jack Clarke. He should have no issues settling in.

"I’ve only ever seen Mundle play on the left-wing so I would see this more, and Sunderland fans won’t like me saying this, as Sunderland looking for one for the future, for that replacement for Jack Clarke.

"Obviously his contract is coming down and there will be big bids in the summer. Sunderland have done very well to keep Clarke in this window, in my opinion.

"They’ll be looking at Romaine to really step into that role and there is ability there, absolutely. So, it depends how he makes that transition from academy football into senior men’s football."

Kristjaan Speakman has spoken about Sunderland's pursuit of Amad Diallo and how it affected other deals in the January transfer window.

Sunderland travel to the Riverside Stadium this Sunday (12.00 GMT) hoping to secure a second successive win in the Championship after the much-needed win v Stoke last weekend.

Michael Beale's side will also be hoping to enact revenge on Carrick and company, after the Smoggys won 4-0 in the reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light.

Boro are three points behind the Black Cats as both sides sit just outside of the play-off places.

Let us know your score prediction and any other pre-match thoughts here.