AliousFormer Crystal Palace owner and talkSPORT pundit **Simon Jordan** has issued a major warning to **Newcastle United** ahead of Sunday’s hotly anticipated Wear–Tyne derby — the first league clash between the rivals in nearly a decade.
With Sunderland stunning the Premier League this season and outperforming all early expectations, Jordan believes Eddie Howe’s side are walking into a far tougher fixture than many expected. According to him, the entire country will be watching closely because the Black Cats’ resurgence has become one of the stories of the campaign.
A Derby 10 Years in the Making
Newcastle haven’t made the trip to the Stadium of Light for a Premier League showdown since October 2015, and their last top-flight derby came in March 2016 — the season the Magpies were relegated.
They returned immediately and, since then, have rebuilt their profile, especially after the 2021 takeover that propelled them back into Europe and delivered their first domestic trophy in 70 years with last season’s Carabao Cup triumph.
Sunderland’s Remarkable Rise
While Newcastle climbed, Sunderland plummeted. They crashed from the Premier League to League One within two seasons, spending four long years in the third tier before battling their way back.
Their promotion via last season’s Championship play-offs capped off a dramatic rebuild, strengthened further by a bold summer recruitment drive.
The reward?
A stunning start to life back in the Premier League — ninth place, 23 points, and a belief that they can compete with anyone.
Form, Stakes, and a Table Tightening Derby
Newcastle, on the other hand, have struggled to find rhythm. Inconsistency sees them sitting 12th — just one point behind their rivals. A win on Sunday would push them above Sunderland and keep their European ambitions alive.
But a Sunderland victory would fuel what Jordan describes as an “improbable” early-season surge and deepen the belief that they’re capable of something extraordinary.
Jordan’s Verdict: Newcastle Must Be Careful
Jordan believes Sunderland’s achievements have shifted the entire narrative surrounding the derby:
> “The expectations of Sunderland are being exceeded because people are marvelling at the way they’ve come up and done their job so well. The fact Newcastle are in the Champions League and expected to punch hard doesn’t mean they’re being eclipsed — but it does mean the whole country will be hugely engaged.”
He added that Newcastle’s status offers them no guarantee:
> “At no point when this was put on the roster did anyone expect Sunderland to be in this type of condition. Newcastle have a real game on their hands. It’ll be a hell of a game.”
Alious
