Sunderland Football Club responded perfectly to a previous defeat, taking revenge on their regional rival from the Tyne and Wear area, Newcastle United, for the first time in 10 years in the Premier League. After the match, Sunderland's stars and staff took a group photo on the 'SOL' stadium pitch in front of their fans following the victory. The winning goal came from an own goal by Newcastle's German player, Florian Wirtz, who accidentally headed the ball into his own net.
Sunderland defender Dan Ballard spoke about that feeling, saying: "It's hard to describe the feeling at that time, it was extremely painful." The team, nicknamed "The Black Cats," had not faced Newcastle in the Premier League since 2016 and managed to hold their own this time. The group photo was a response to Newcastle players' celebration after a 3-0 clean win against them in the FA Cup in January 2024.
