Sunderland and Newcastle meet for the 29th time in the Premier League on Sunday, with their head-to-head records so far almost identical.
Newcastle have more Premier League history than their local rivals, having competed in 31 of the competition’s first 34 seasons, compared to Sunderland’s 17. Newcastle have also achieved nine top-five finishes.
Sunderland’s highest finish in the Premier League is seventh, although Sunderland are on course to become the best promoted team in a 38-match Premier League season if they can maintain their strong start to the current campaign.
Despite the Magpies being the better performers during the Premier League era, both sides have beaten each other nine times, while drawing ten times.
Sunderland vs Newcastle: head-to-head record in the Premier League
- Games — 28
- Newcastle wins – 9
- Sunderland win – 9
- Draw — 10
- Newcastle goals – 36
- Sunderland goals — 35
- Newcastle points — 37
- Sunderland points — 37
Previous results
| Date | Home team | Result | Away team |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2016 | Newcastle | 1–1 | Sunderland |
| Oct 2015 | Sunderland | 3–0 | Newcastle |
| April 2015 | Sunderland | 1–0 | Newcastle |
| December 2014 | Newcastle | 0–1 | Sunderland |
| February 2014 | Newcastle | 0–3 | Sunderland |
| Oct 2013 | Sunderland | 2–1 | Newcastle |
| April 2013 | Newcastle | 0–3 | Sunderland |
| Oct 2012 | Sunderland | 1–1 | Newcastle |
| March 2012 | Newcastle | 1–1 | Sunderland |
| August 2011 | Sunderland | 0–1 | Newcastle |
| January 2011 | Sunderland | 1–1 | Newcastle |
| Oct 2010 | Newcastle | 5–1 | Sunderland |
| February 2009 | Newcastle | 1–1 | Sunderland |
| Oct 2008 | Sunderland | 2–1 | Newcastle |
| April 2008 | Newcastle | 2–0 | Sunderland |
| November 2007 | Sunderland | 1–1 | Newcastle |
| April 2006 | Sunderland | 1–4 | Newcastle |
| Oct 2005 | Newcastle | 3–2 | Sunderland |
| April 2003 | Sunderland | 0–1 | Newcastle |
| September 2002 | Newcastle | 2–0 | Sunderland |
| February 2002 | Sunderland | 0–1 | Newcastle |
| August 2001 | Newcastle | 1–1 | Sunderland |
| April 2001 | Sunderland | 1–1 | Newcastle |
| November 2000 | Newcastle | 1–2 | Sunderland |
| February 2000 | Sunderland | 2–2 | Newcastle |
| August 1999 | Newcastle | 1–2 | Sunderland |
| April 1997 | Newcastle | 1–1 | Sunderland |
| September 1996 | Sunderland | 1–2 | Newcastle |
How Sunderland vs Newcastle compares to the other major derbies in the Premier League
Of all the major Premier League derbies, Sunderland versus Newcastle is the only rivalry that is currently level in terms of points head-to-head.
By comparison, United are 15 points ahead of City in all matches against Manchester, while Arsenal – who top the Premier League’s London derby table – have 39 points ahead of Tottenham in battles in north London.
The Merseyside derby is even more one-sided, with Liverpool 57 points ahead of Everton in their head-to-head Premier League match.
Why is Sunderland vs Newcastle the most exciting derby in Premier League history?
One factor is sample size. Sunderland and Newcastle have met just 28 times in the Premier League, compared to 67 meetings in both the Merseyside and North London derbies.
However, it would be far too simplistic to suggest that Tyne-Wear’s derby statistics are so tight simply because of a lack of games.
The more telling pattern is how often this fixture avoids dominance. Only seven of the 28 Premier League meetings have been decided by a margin of two or more goals, which helps explain why the points and goals columns remain almost perfectly level.
There’s also the psychological weight of the occasion. The Tyne-Wear derby is raw and all-consuming, while the atmosphere in the stands is almost toxic, creating pressure that can distort matches and reduce them to moments rather than long periods of control.
In such circumstances, avoiding mistakes becomes as important as taking risks – and that of course keeps games competitive.
One might assume that home field advantage would be decisive in such a hostile rivalry. In reality, the Premier League era record suggests the opposite. Away sides have recorded more wins than home sides, with Newcastle in particular enjoying repeated success at the Stadium of Light, while Sunderland recorded some of their most memorable victories at St James’ Park.
That lack of living comfort underlines what makes this derby so special. It tends to level the playing field, take away from the wider pedigree and form and turn the match into a test of nerves.
That’s why, more than any other rivalry in the Premier League, Sunderland versus Newcastle are in true balance.
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