Black Cats Target More Derby Day Joy

How the tables are turning in the north-east of late. Including Cup matches, Newcastle have lost three on the spin at St James’s Park while Sunderland are unbeaten in five league games away from the Stadium of Light.

The Mackems are out of the bottom three and into a Cup final so must be tempting at best odds of 10/3 (Betfred) for three points here. However, we should be even more daring; Gus Poyet’s boys are 15/2 (Skybet) to win to nil and that’s outstanding value based on form and circumstances.

The Toon Army haven’t seen their side score in four of their last five in the league. The likelihood of the net bulging this weekend lessened further when Loic Remy got himself sent off in midweek and suspended for derby day. The sale of Yohan Cabaye will further upset the natives; the Magpies have only won four of 20 top flight fixtures without him since 2011.

Sunderland have built their improved results around a sturdy backline and the away victory with a clean sheet is therefore the right wager at a big price.