The Tyne-Wear derby kicks off proceedings on Sunday, as Sunderland look to pacify a Newcastle side that rediscovered their mojo with a 6-2 win over Norwich City last Gameweek. The Black Cats are without a win this campaign but haven’t lost a derby match since August 2011, winning the last five by an aggregate of 10-1.
Sunderland have posed little goal threat over the past four Gameweeks, drawing three blanks and ranking bottom for shots inside the box (18). Moreover, no team has mustered fewer shots on target (25) throughout the course of the campaign. They’ve fared no better on the defensive end, placing second for goals conceded (19) and shots inside the box conceded (89), rendering them a Fantasy wasteland through the opening nine Gameweeks.
Although the Magpies put the Canaries to the sword at St James’ Park, they still rank in the bottom five for attempts (43) over the last four Gameweeks, which serves to moderate the enthusiasm fostered by that crushing victory. Steve McClaren’s men have surrendered just three fewer shots inside the box (86) than Sunderland and conceded the same number of goals (19), ensuring that a 0-0 stalemate is an unlikely scenario.
