Sunderland Mimic Famous Newcastle Group Snapshot After Crucial Local Rivalry Triumph.

An altered coaching staff and an almost completely different team – but someone at Sunderland remembered vividly.

Almost 24 months prior, after a comprehensive Magpies victory at the Stadium of Light in an FA Cup tie, the rivals marked the occasion with a full squad photograph on the pitch.

This time, the situation were flipped.

Nick Woltemade's mistake proved sufficient to deliver Sunderland a historic win over their rivals in the return of the Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 – prompting the hosts to stage their own version of Newcastle's post-match snapshot at full-time.

“Always unpredictable, creative, adaptive,” said with a grin Black Cats manager Regis le Bris when asked about who suggested the photograph.

Defender Dan Ballard, who scored an own goal in that cup defeat, was the lone Sunderland player to start in the two games.

He revealed how he desperately wanted to avenge the loss, stating: “It's indescribable. It was so painful for the players and for the fans. We felt we had disappointed them, so we're delighted with this win.”

“It served as motivation. We came in with greater talent in this team, strong personalities, we stuck in there, fought really hard and I thought we earned the win.”

‘Derbies you have to win, it does not matter how’

Occupying seventh spot Sunderland are having a superb return to the top flight following promotion via the play-offs last season.

The Black Cats have 26 points on the board in 16 games, their best return at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2000-01.

They are undefeated in the league at the Stadium of Light, which had an electric atmosphere for most of Sunday afternoon.

“In local rivalry matches, the result is everything, the performance secondary,” said captain Granit Xhaka. “This team deserves much more – where we are in the league is remarkable and we're working really hard.”

Sunderland are also without a loss in their last 10 league games against Newcastle, their longest such run without defeat against the Magpies.

Newcastle's last league win over Sunderland was over a decade ago.

Manager Regis le Bris said he was “extremely pleased” with the performance.

“It was a derby and we were carrying the hopes of our fans,” he stated. “This win is well deserved, we were mature and the lads were outstanding.”

“It's fantastic for the area, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a huge game, but we have to reset quickly as we have another difficult test in Brighton in one week.”