Opta Stats: Newcastle v Sunderland

14Apr 2013

England - Premier League

It's the North East derby and this one has more at stake than most, with Newcastle looking to secure their Premier League status and simultaneously pushing their rivals Sunderland towards relegation.

Shola Ameobi has scored seven goals in 13 Barclays Premier League meetings with Sunderland; against no other side has he netted more than three. Ameobi is 3.1 to add to his tally.

With seven goals in this fixture, Ameobi is by some way the top scoring player in the Tyne-Wear derby in the Premier League era (Kevin Nolan and Kevin Phillips next on four). Ameobi is 7.5 to score first.

There have been five red cards in the last five league meetings between Newcastle and Sunderland; with four of these being given to the Black Cats. You can find odds of 3.7 on a red card being shown during the match.

Sunderland are without a win in seven league trips to St James Park (D3 L4) and have never kept a clean sheet there in the Premier League era (10 matches). Newcastle are 1.96 to win.

Overall, the Black Cats have won only one the last 16 Premier League Tyne-Wear derbies, drawing seven and losing eight. The draw can be backed at 3.5.

The away side has netted exactly once in eight of the last nine meetings between Newcastle and Sunderland, including the last seven in a row. Sunderland are 1.55 to score a goal.

Sunderland are without a win in nine league games (D3 L6). The Black Cats are 2.78 to be relegated.

The Magpies have scored a 90th minute winner in three of their last four home league games. Papiss Cisse scored the last minute winner in Newcastle's game against Fulham and can be backed at 5.4 to score the last goal.

Sunderland have scored just two headed goals all season, a league-low. Newcastle are 2.74 to keep a clean sheet.

Sunderland have averaged just 0.87 points per game on a Sunday in the Premier League era; the worst record of any of the 18 teams to have played 50+ games on this day. Newcastle are 3.1 to win to nil.