Score Predictions: Can Sunderland See Off The Mags At Home?

Martin Wanless predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Newcastle 1

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Granit Xhaka

A big, big day on Wearside. This is a huge game in our resurgence — and a win here could be the cherry on top of what’s been an exceptional 2025.

It’ll be a tough game, but I’m hoping beyond hope that we can get the win today, which will be worth more than three points.

First scorer? Xhaka to lead by example in a tense, tight and nervy win.

‘The Champion’ Malc Dugdale predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Newcastle 0

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Wilson Isidor

The Lads have had a full week off to rest, recover and train ready for today. They’ll be ready for battle and baying for blood after the disappointment of a 3-0 loss away to Manchester City last weekend.

That passion for victory should especially be the case against this collection of over-entitled pond life, who seem to think since winning the League Cup, they’re even more of “the dog’s nob” than before, and it’s our turn to wake up this bunch of self indulgent, tree-felling, oppressive-regime-loving saddos.

We’re back, we’re on the up, and you’re next. Can you deal with the 2025/2026 version of Sunderland AFC? I don’t think so.

Monologues aside, Newcastle have had a wee resurgence of late, closing the points gap behind us well, but they’ll be tired from their midweek Champions League game and I’m sure they’ll have absolutely no idea about the wall of red and white which is about to hit them at 100mph.

Isidor is going to get our first for me, using his pace against a less-than-mobile backline — including Dan “The Tanker” Burn.

Dan Ballard will get a second early in the second half to get his own back for that deflected own goal in the cup game, and we’ll cruise the rest of the game without incident, wondering what all the fuss was about.

I’ve manifested it, lads. Go and do it. It’s nothing less than you’re capable of.

Jack Howe-Gingell predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 3 Newcastle 1

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Enzo Le Fée

Are you nervous yet? Because they are.

It’s to our great credit that we go into this game one point ahead of our rivals and I’m sure that despite the usual nonsense spouted, they know they’re coming into a real game after a slow start to their Premier League season.

I expect it to be a physical, fast-paced affair. They like to mix it (see also: “cheat”) and can break with speed, so our midfield maestro Granit Xhaka will be pivotal in keeping us organised and driving us on against a set of robust players.

Another tiring trip for Newcastle in midweek to drop points again at Bayer Leverkusen will have taken its toll, and we have to take full advantage of that. Having Noah Sadiki and his outrageous energy against a team who’ve already played once this week looks even more dangerous now — thank the red and white gods that those yellow cards were avoided.

I fancy Le Fée to follow in the footsteps of Patrice Carteron and Djibril Cissé, with a tenacious display and a sumptuous goal to go with it.

The Stadium of Light has proved a fortress so far this season but on Sunday, we prepare for war.

Will Jones predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Newcastle 0

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Noah Sadiki

All the noise this week has been from them: excuses, downplaying it and pretending they’re not rattled. But they know exactly what’s waiting at 2:00pm: a Stadium of Light that’s been itching for this.

We look built for this battle; Granit Xhaka running the show, Dan Ballard and Omar Alderete as solid as granite, and Noah Sadiki ready to outrun every black and white shirt in sight. Hit them early, win the duels, keep the tempo high, and this is our game to grab.

I fancy Sadiki to spark it off: press, pinch it, slot it, bedlam.

Derbies come down to desire. And this time, it’s our lads who want it more.

Matty Foster predicts…

Score prediction: Newcastle 2 Sunderland 1

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Dan Ballard

Forget the years spent lost in the doldrums of League One. Forget the sneering Mags who laughed at our misfortune and forget the 0-3 in the FA Cup, because this time, we meet them as equals.

The superiority complex runs deep on the dark side of the North East and the narrative is that this is their “third most important game of the week”.

That’s fine. Underestimate us at your peril, because I have no doubt these lads know exactly what this means to the fans.

This is their chance to write themselves into folklore and to become heroes on Wearside.

Get into them, f**k ’em up!

HA’WAY THE LADS!

FTM.

Anthony Gair predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 5 Newcastle 1

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Dan Ballard

We’re going to come out all guns blazing and score three before Newcastle actually realise they’re playing.

They’ll come out in the second half the better team, score a goal, and Granit Xhaka will rally the troops to punish them further until the ninetieth minute.

A lad can dream!

Gary Winter predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Newcastle 1

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Dan Ballard

Form and league position can go in the bin — it’s ninety minutes decided by who wants it more, a bit of quality, and a bit of luck.

For occasions like this, we have the players I want in my team: Granit Xhaka, Dan Ballard, Omar Alderete, Nordi Mukiele, Reinildo, Noah Sadiki…and I could go on.

I have full confidence in the Lads that they understand the importance of this game and how much it means to the fans and the city. And they’ll certainly feel that on the day, just when they thought they understood.

As long as they show the unwavering commitment on the pitch that we’ve seen already, and strike a balance with their emotions, I believe we’ll win this match.

Ballard getting the first goal would be immense and a signal of how far he’s grown since the last time.

The Mags don’t get to play this fixture down now it’s here and tell us we are over the top, whilst it’s not as big a game for them — you’re not fooling us.

There’s too many receipts out there, and we’re here to collect.

FTM.

Brett Lyons-Davis predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 3 Newcastle 0

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Granit Xhaka

FTM.

Last Time Out…

The boys did OK for the first third of the game at Manchester City, but when we were undone by a deflection and then a set piece, it rapidly became clear this run was simply too much with tough games in quick succession. The third City goal was quality that we simply can’t argue against. Lovely stuff — sadly against us and not by us.

We had some great chances for Enzo Le Fée, Granit Xhaka and Wilson Isidor and on another day, two or even all three of them would’ve gone in rather than narrowly missing, hitting the woodwork or being saved.

It was a step too far to face Liverpool and City away and so close to each other, but we left with our heads held high, and now we need to focus on the big one.

Last Game Predictions…

Most of the lads went for either a loss or a draw, with the odd outlier, which brought in just a few points for a few of the team.

No points for first scorer as nobody went for a loss to nil, either.

Predictions Table And Standings

Minor moves in the table only, with only four points between sixth place and top.

Four points is exactly what you get for the right score and first scorer.

Easy for anyone to rally across Christmas, then!

How the points are awarded

Just a quick reminder of how we allocate points to our match-by-match predictions:

• Correct score = Three points
• Correct outcome (but not correct score) = One point
• Correct first Sunderland goalscorer = One point (no goalscorer is a valid call)
• Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting on time = a two-point deduction.