Alious### **Sunderland Prepare for Fierce Riverside Derby Against Middlesbrough**
Sunderland’s upcoming clash is one that fans always anticipate with extra excitement—a heated North East derby against Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
This fierce showdown presents the perfect opportunity for Sunderland to bounce back after a frustrating draw against bottom-of-the-league Plymouth Argyle. Head coach Regis Le Bris admitted his side was fortunate to escape with a point, acknowledging that a much-improved performance will be necessary to stand a chance against high-flying Boro.
While we’ve already broken down Sunderland’s predicted lineup, attention now turns to the man in charge of officiating this highly charged encounter.
### **Who’s Refereeing Middlesbrough vs. Sunderland?**
The referee for Monday night’s clash will be Stephen Martin. Assisting him on the touchlines will be Blake Antrobus and Carl Fitch-Jackson, with James Bell acting as the fourth official.
### **Stephen Martin’s Record This Season**
Martin has officiated 19 matches across all competitions during the 2024/25 season, with the majority—14—coming in the Championship. He has also overseen four League One fixtures and one in League Two.
While Martin isn’t shy about dishing out yellow cards, having handed out 81 so far this season, he has surprisingly yet to brandish a single red card. He has, however, awarded three penalties—all to home sides (Swansea, Norwich, and Birmingham City)—though his last spot-kick decision came back in October.
With the tension of a derby and the unpredictability of deadline day looming, Sunderland will need to remain composed in what could be a fiery contest. Interestingly, Martin has already refereed two Middlesbrough home games this season—both resulting in victories for Boro, a 2-0 win over Stoke City and a 3-1 triumph against Hull City.
Sunderland will be hoping to break that pattern and come away with a crucial result in what promises to be an electric night at the Riverside.
Alious
