Alan Shearer Delivers Scathing Newcastle Verdict After Sunderland Defeat

Alan Shearer has given his brutal assessment of Newcastle United's loss to Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby.

On Sunday afternoon, one of the fiercest rivalries in English football as Sunderland hosted local rivals Newcastle United in the Stadium of Light.

The match marked the first time that the two sides have met since January 2024 and is also the first since Sunderland secured promotion back to the Premier League for the 2025/26 season.

Going into the match tensions were reaching a boiling point, with the visitors being met with an extremely hostile reception from the Sunderland fans.

However, the atmosphere clearly got the better of the Newcastle players as they lost the match 1-0, and club legend Shearer isn't happy about it.

Newcastle United faced a hostile reception at the Stadium of Light. (Image: Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

In an attempt to defend a Sunderland cross, it was Newcastle United striker striker Nick Woltemade that put the ball in the back of his own net, leading to the 1-0 final scoreline.

The result leaves Newcastle United behind their rivals in the Premier League table, with Sunderland four points clear sitting seventh on the table while the Magpies are in 12th with 22 points.

Immediately after the defeat to Sunderland, Newcastle United legend took Shearer took to X to share his thoughts, and he didn't hold back.

"Offered nothing up front at all. Awful. Miles off it for a derby game," he lamented.

As noted by Shearer, Newcastle United failed to threaten going forward for much of the match, with their only shots onb targer being two efforts from distance from Bruno Guimaraes, both of which were comfortably saved by Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs.

Woltemade's stunning own goal led to Newcastle losing the match 1-0. (Image: Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Although they were able to beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the January 2024 FA Cup fixture, Newcastle United's last league win against the Black Cats was back in 2011.

In fact, the Magpies have now not won any of their last 10 games against Sunderland in the Premier League.

Eddie Howe will have at least one other chance to end that steak this season, as the return Premier League fixture at St James’ Park is scheduled for 21st March 2026, the first Tyne-Wear derby at Newcastle United's home ground since March 2016.