Newcastle United's manager, Eddie Howe, expressed his disappointment following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Sunderland in the Premier League. The match was decided by an unfortunate own goal from Nick Woltemade
during the second half. This result marked the first Tyne-Wear derby since March 2016 and extended Newcastle's winless streak against Sunderland to ten matches.
Despite entering the game with ten points from their last four league matches, Newcastle struggled offensively. They managed only two shots on target, highlighting their lack of sharpness in attack. The match recorded just 11 shots in total, the fewest in a Premier League game since March 2023, when Aston Villa faced Crystal Palace.
Howe acknowledged the team's shortcomings, stating, "It was not our finest game. The effort was there, but the quality was not. " He noted that the match offered very few opportunities and was ultimately decided by an unexpected goal. "Nick has not meant to do it, but it has decided the game," he added.
Adding to Newcastle's woes was an injury to Dan Burn, who left the field in the 41st minute after a collision with Nordi Mukiele. Howe mentioned that Burn had been taken to hospital for a rib check-up and expressed hope for his recovery. This injury further compounded Newcastle's frustration on a challenging day.
The team felt they underperformed despite understanding the significance of the derby. Howe remarked on their lack of creativity and how they failed to test Sunderland's goalkeeper significantly. "We know how much this means and all the focus on today was huge," he said.
Thank you for your support todaypic.twitter.com/Do4tdCFHqMNewcastle United (@NUFC) December 14, 2025
The game lacked quality throughout both halves, leaving Newcastle disappointed with their performance. Despite some improvements after substitutions, they couldn't create enough chances to challenge Sunderland effectively. Howe admitted feeling let down by their inability to deliver a strong performance.
Reflecting on the match, Howe shared his sentiments: "We feel disappointed in ourselves and that we left something on the pitch. " The loss left Newcastle with a sense of regret as they missed an opportunity to climb above their local rivals in the league standings.
