Live on ESPN - 12 o'clock 4/3/2012
TEAM NEWS
Newcastle: Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccinni, Santon; Taylor, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez; Cisse, Ba
Sunderland: Mignolet; Bardsley, O'Shea, Turner, Richardson; Larsson, Cattermole, Gardner, McLean; Sessegnon; Bendtner
Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse will be fit for Sunday despite a groin injury ruling him out of Senegal's friendly.
Cheick Tiote is also expected to play, but Shola Ameobi has been struggling with illness and could miss out.
Sunderland full-back Phil Bardsley is a major doubt with a calf problem, while back-up keeper Kieren Westwood is out.
Nicklas Bendtner and Sebastian Larsson should be fit but Stephane Sessegnon may be jet-lagged after returning late from international action with Benin.
Preview
This latest chapter in the history of Tyne versus Wear comes in a relatively bright period for north-east football, with both clubs in the top half of the Premier League - and, a little further south, Middlesbrough trying to maintain a push to rejoin them amongst the elite.
What happened at the Hawthorns wasn't nearly as painful to Mackems as events in this fixture last season, mind you. Newcastle's 5-1 win was their biggest derby success since 1956 and might have sowed the first seeds towards Steve Bruce's sacking as Sunderland boss some 13 months later. Never mind the fact that he steered his team to finishing above Newcastle at last season's end - the campaign's most defining moment for many fans would have been the 'Halloween horror show' at St James' Park. When Newcastle then won 1-0 on Wearside at the start of the current season, it really was the beginning of the end for Bruce.That said, Newcastle are still smarting from throwing away a two-goal lead to draw against Wolves last weekend, while Sunderland suffered their heaviest defeat of the season - 4-0 at West Brom.
This is Martin O'Neill's first taste of the biggest game his club plays, but he can draw positively on experience of fierce rivalry from his last two managerial posts. At Aston Villa he won four out of four against Birmingham. In 27 Old Firm games his Celtic side won twice as many as they lost (16 against eight).
Alan Pardew has won one derby and drawn one since becoming Newcastle boss, and the way he talks about the game, the club and the area these days he almost sounds like a proud son of Tyneside! He'll be as desperate as any genuine Geordie to see United stretch their unbeaten run to six home games in league and cup.
It's a high noon Sunday start for one of my favourite fixtures on the planet. Anyone else got goose bumps?!
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I am hoping for a 2-0 win for Newcastle.
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