Elated Sunderland savour triumph over Newcastle rivals
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris stated that the unforgettable success against Newcastle in the opening Premier League Tyne Wear derby in almost ten years would not lead to overconfidence.
The 1-0 triumph against their nearby north east opponents at the Stadium of Light raised the newly promoted Black Cats to seventh in the standings with 26 points.
The success stemmed from an own goal by Newcastle's highest priced acquisition Nick Woltemade just after the second half kicked off.
Sunderland's squad marked the three points with a team photo on the field following the final whistle copying what Newcastle did after their 3-0 FA Cup victory on Wearside last January.
Yet the French coach stressed that they would avoid getting swept up in the moment.
"We must remain clever and courteous. It's merely a match and success brings delight," he remarked.
"Beyond that naturally we have squad members who have stayed with us for years so they likely grasp the derby's weight more than the arrivals particularly after dropping the prior clash.
"At this point it boils down to maintaining poise. I stress again: savour it then regroup since a demanding fixture awaits in seven days."
Sunderland held the ball well in the opening period and afterwards as Eddie Howe's side mounted a failed recovery following the concession they stood firm at the back.
The previous Premier League encounter between the sides occurred in March 2016 concluding in a 1-1 stalemate.
The Sunday reverse positioned Newcastle 12th ahead of their midweek League Cup quarter final versus Fulham.
They continue to chase direct progression to the Champions League knockout rounds.
"We recognise our showing fell below the required level not in defence where we coped adequately across the contest but we lacked the edge to unlock them" Howe commented.
"Every reversal invites scrutiny yet with this fixture it will ring out more intensely owing to its significance. We completely accept that.
"That explains the deep sting."