Five. In the short term, Sunderland fans will revel in a fifth straight victory over their north-eastern rivals – they had not even won four in a row before this run began.
But more significant in the long run, putting parochial passions aside, is probably the fact that 64 days after their fourth win of the season, they at last achieved a fifth, lifting them to 15th, three points above the relegation zone.
The goal that won it will live long in the folk history of the fixture, a volley swept in by Jermain Defoe from 25 yards in first-half injury time after Steven Fletcher had flicked on Costel Pantilimon’s long clearance.
If there is a doubt needling away beneath the jubilation, it is that it took a moment of such brilliance to win the game, that for much of the rest of a game they dominated, Sunderland struggled to turn possession into clear chances and could not convert the chances they did create.
Three weeks ago, as they lost 4-0 at home to Aston Villa, Sunderland seemed doomed. Half the crowd left at half time. The change manager Dick Advocaat has effected since then is remarkable, even if the pattern is becoming familiar.
He is the third Sunderland manager in a row to begin his career with a defeat followed by a derby victory: that run stretches back a week less than two years, a period in which Sunderland have won more derbies than they had in the previous 34 years.
No manager can create quality where none exists, but even at West Ham United there were signs of a greater urgency.
Here, Sunderland gripped the game in the opening seconds and only began to release their grasp in the final quarter of an hour.
“They can’t walk any more,” Advocaat said. “They worked their socks off, and football-wise it was much better than the last game. We had to win today – there was a lot of pressure on the team.”
It also seemed telling of Sunderland’s commitment that Defoe was in tears as he walked off at half time, the emotion of his goal having overwhelmed him.
It was his third since joining the club in January on a deal worth £70,000 (Dh384,000) a week, and his first for six weeks. Suddenly, the grumbles about whether he is worth the money have decreased in volume.
Advocaat said he had approached Fletcher after his hat-trick for Scotland against Gibraltar and said, “You’ve done it for Scotland; now do it for us.” He then turned to Defoe and asked if he had to say anything to him.
“No,” the forward replied. “I know what I have to do.”
The key is to keep doing it. Sunderland probably need six or seven points from their final seven games of the season to be safe, and they know they will not find many more accommodating sides than Newcastle United.
“I thought the first half we were dreadful,” manager John Carver said. “I said no side of mine would be criticised for not closing people down, not working hard enough, and I was wrong. I’m embarrassed to be part of this record.”
Carver suggested certain players could not handle the pressure of the derby and said he was asking himself “where the next point’s coming from”.
With 35 points, they should be safe, but yet again Newcastle end the season with a sense of drift and stasis.
Although Sunderland would love six points more, they at least have a sense of fighting for something and hope of an upturn.
REPORT CARD
Man of the match: Jordi Gomez
Gomez was as neat and tidy as ever, a welcome island of calm amid the storm, but also showed a pleasing spikiness.
Sunderland 7/10 Probably their best home performance of the season when they needed it most.
Newcastle 2/10 A dismal display from a side that has lost its way badly since the turn of the year. No fight, no energy, so sense of assertiveness.
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us on twitter at @NatSportUAE
more from Janine di Giovanni
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The UN General Assembly President in quotes:
YEMEN: “The developments we have seen are promising. We really hope that the parties are going to respect the agreed ceasefire. I think that the sense of really having the political will to have a peace process is vital. There is a little bit of hope and the role that the UN has played is very important.”
PALESTINE: “There is no easy fix. We need to find the political will and comply with the resolutions that we have agreed upon.”
OMAN: “It is a very important country in our system. They have a very important role to play in terms of the balance and peace process of that particular part of the world, in that their position is neutral. That is why it is very important to have a dialogue with the Omani authorities.”
REFORM OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL: “This is complicated and it requires time. It is dependent on the effort that members want to put into the process. It is a process that has been going on for 25 years. That process is slow but the issue is huge. I really hope we will see some progress during my tenure.”
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
Q&A with Dash Berlin
Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.
You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.
You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.
Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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