Sunderland vs Newcastle: ‘Superb’ Woltemade own goal as ‘roof comes off’ in Premier League
Nick Woltemade opened the scoring in Sunderland vs Newcastle
Nick Woltemade’s own goal put Sunderland on course for a long-awaited derby win over Newcastle when the neighbours met in the Premier League for the first time since March 2016 on Sunday.
New signing Woltemade headed in Nordi Mukiele’s cross to put the hosts in front and in sight of a first victory in the fixture since October 2015, inadvertently finding the back of his own net in the 46th minute at the Stadium of Light.
“A superb header from the big German striker,” former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told BBC Sport.
“But it is an own goal from Nick Woltemade. He doesn’t know what’s around him. The roof has just come off at the Stadium of Light.”
The Stadium of Light is rocking in the derby… because Nick Woltemade has just headed into his own net! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/tNQKgyGdlM
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 14, 2025
Table of Contents
Sunderland team vs Newcastle
Sunderland’s Reinildo Mandava returned following a groin issue, but fellow left-back Dennis Cirkin was not involved despite progressing in his return from injury.
Chemsdine Talbi and Brian Brobbey came in alongside Mandava, replacing Lutsharel Geertruida, Wilson Isidor and Luke O’Nien, who was serving the first match of a three-game suspension for being dismissed in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City last Saturday.
Habib Diarra was set to return to full training the following week after a groin injury but could feature for Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which starts on December 21.
“He will need probably one or two weeks to be at his best after a good rehab programme and after that it depends on AFCON,” assessed manager Regis Le Bris.
“We need to build his fitness level and after that, he will be ready. The decision is with the national team. If they want to select the player, they can. It’s not our decision.”
The Black Cats started the day 10th in the table and unbeaten at home in this season’s top flight.
Sunderland starting XI: Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele, Dan Ballard, Omar Alderete, Reinildo Mandava, Bertrand Traore, Noah Sadiki, Enzo Le Fee, Granit Xhaka, Chemsdine Talbi, Brian Brobbey
Sunderland substitutes: Anthony Patterson, Dan Neil, Lutsharel Geertruida, Chris Rigg, Eliezer Mayenda, Romaine Mundle, Wilson Isidor, Simon Adingra, Trai Hume
Newcastle team vs Sunderland
Joelinton was a doubt for Newcastle with a groin injury and was on the bench, Lewis Miley replacing the midfielder in the starting line-up.
Anthony Elanga replaced Harvey Barnes in attack. Striker Yoane Wissa had an illness but was among the substitutes.
Full-back Kieran Trippier (thigh) was out, as were goalkeeper Nick Pope (groin), defenders Sven Botman (back) and Emil Krafth (knee) and forward William Osula (ankle).
Newcastle were unbeaten in four matches in all competitions, including a 2-2 draw at Leverkusen in the Champions League four days earlier.
Newcastle starting XI: Aaron Ramsdale, Tino Livramento, Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall, Lewis Miley, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Elanga, Nick Woltemade, Anthony Gordon
Newcastle substitutes: John Ruddy, Fabian Schar, Joelinton, Yoane Wissa, Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock, Alex Murphy, Jacob Ramsey
How to watch Sunderland vs Newcastle: Live online stream, TV channel
Kick-off on Sunday was at 14:00 GMT (09:00 ET / 06:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra.
Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a day membership, £28 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.
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Streaming is available on a vast variety of devices via the Sky GO app
Sunderland vs Newcastle stats
- Sunderland are unbeaten in their last nine league games against Newcastle (W6 D3)
- That is their longest ever unbeaten league run in the history of the fixture, although they lost the most recent derby in all competitions 3-0 at home in an FA Cup third round tie in January 2024
- Arsenal are the only other team unbeaten in this season’s division, with Sunderland winning four and drawing three of their 2025/26 league games at the Stadium of Light
- They have more points at home this season (15) than they won across their last campaign in the top flight (14 in 2016/17)
- Only Burnley (12.3) have a lower expected goals (xG) total in the Premier League this season than Sunderland (13), whose 18 goals mean they rank fourth for xG overperformance this term (+5)
- Newcastle have lost their last three away league games against Sunderland – more than they had in their previous 21 visits combined (W6 D13 L2)
- They’ve never lost four in a row away to the Mackems before
- The EFL Cup holders have both scored and conceded a goal in each of their last eight Premier League games, last having a longer such run in the top division between December 1960 and March 1961 (13 games)
- After a run of 22 Premier League games without a goal, Anthony Gordon is now aiming to score in a third successive such game for the first time in his career and become the first Newcastle player to score a penalty in three consecutive matches in the division
- Bruno Guimaraes has scored five Premier League goals this season, only netting more in a single campaign in 2023/24 (7). All five have come in home games, while nine of his last 10 overall have come at St James’ Park
Premier League results and fixtures this weekend
Arsenal beat Wolves 2-1 at home on Saturday courtesy of Yerson Mosquera’s 94th-minute own goal, winning after Chelsea earned their first victory in four games in all competitions with a 2-0 home defeat of Everton.
Mohamed Salah came off the bench as reigning champions Liverpool beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0, and Fulham ended a two-match losing run with victory at Burnley.
All fixtures start at 14:00 GMT unless stated otherwise.
Saturday, December 13
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
Liverpool 2-0 Brighton
Burnley 2-3 Fulham
Arsenal 2-1 Wolves
Sunday, December 14
Palace vs Man City
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham
Sunderland vs Newcastle
West Ham vs Aston Villa
Brentford vs Leeds United (16:30)
Monday, December 15
Manchester United vs Bournemouth (20:00)