Premier League preview: Sunderland v Newcastle

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill and Newcastle counterpart Alan Pardew have patched up their differences heading into the Tyne-Wear derby.

The two managers were involved in several heated exchanges on the touchlines during the last clash between North-East rivals Newcastle and Sunderland last March.

That game finished in a 1-1 draw thanks to Shola Ameobi’s last-minute equaliser as Sunderland were reduced to 10 men following Stephane Sessegnon’s red card for lashing out at Cheik Tiote.

Black Cats skipper Lee Cattermole also saw red for verbally abusing referee Mike Dean after the match.

However, Pardew and O’Neill have reportedly shook hands and made up at a League Manager’s Association dinner, although there is unlucky to be any love lost when the two sides face off on Sunday at the Stadium of Light.

“Silly things got said on the bench,” Pardew admitted in The Telegraph.

“It got out of hand and it was unsavoury but it happens.

“It’s a passionate game but maybe I could have been a bit more grown-up about it.”

Coming off the international break, both North-East teams will be looking to make up ground on the league’s top sides.

Newcastle are 10th while Sunderland are a further three places back.

Despite their positions, the two teams have proven difficult to defeat this term.

Newcastle have only lost twice to Chelsea and Manchester United in a 3-0 rout in their last match, while Sunderland have only lost once, to Manchester City, before the international break.

Although the two sides are relatively well placed, neither have produced any really exceptional performances in attack, despite being solid in defence.

Newcastle will be looking for a lift from Papiss Demba Cisse, who seems to have struggled so far with the 4-4-2 formation Pardew has been forced to adopt in most games this season to maximise Demba Ba’s influence.

O’Neill will also be looking for others to lift and provide a clinical finish as Steven Fletcher has scored all Sunderland’s five goals so far this campaign.

But Sunderland’s forwards will have to contend with a strengthened Newcastle defensive line as Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini return from injury, while goalkeeper Tim Krul may also be considered.