Sunderland got Newcastle manager sacked with derby win and could put Eddie Howe under more pressure
Newcastle and Sunderland go toe-to-toe on Saturday for the first time since 2016.
The Tyne and Wear derby is always an important one, but for Eddie Howe it could be make or break time.
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Howe could come under more pressure if Newcastle lose to SunderlandCredit: Getty
Howe is under pressure at Newcastle following Champions League and Carabao Cup exits, while they have slipped down to ninth – just one point above Chelsea.
There are mitigating factors, however, with the Magpies having to deal with dire injury problems.
It remains to be seen how long the Saudi Public Investment Fund will be willing to stick with Howe if results continue to falter.
A defeat against arch-rivals Sunderland could spell trouble.
Of course, it is not the first time a Newcastle manager has been sacked following a defeat to Sunderland.
Ruud Guillt lost his job at St James’ Park following an early season defeat to the Mackems in the 1999/2000 campaign.
The writing was perhaps on the wall when Gullit decided to leave star striker Alan Shearer on the bench, with the pair having a well-publicised fallout.
Despite an early goal from Kieron Dyer, Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips landed knockout blows for Sunderland in a 2-1 victory at St James’ Park.
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A defeat to Sunderland ultimately cost Gullit his jobCredit: Getty
It was a triumphant return to the top flight and would ultimately cost Gullit his job.
This sealed a dismal start to that season having taken just one point from their opening five games and the manager was soon sacked.
Shearer later opened up on the incident and how poorly Gullit had handled it.
In an interview reported by the Newcastle Chronicle, he said: “Ruud didn’t like senior players, but there was one guy he couldn’t get rid of and that was myself.
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Dropping Shearer backfired on GullitCredit: Getty
“He gambled and he left me out against Sunderland, he didn’t tell me he was leaving me out – I had to find out by reading it on the board when we went in the dressing room, it was the same for big Dunc.
“We got beat and I went home that night and watched it on Match of the Day and Ruud even blamed me and big Dunc because he brought us on as subs.
“I thought I am going to get up and take the kids into school, which I did at 7.30am, thinking I am going to be first in to give him what for.
“I went barging in at 8am to the office, what did I know but big Dunc was already there taking strips of paint off the wall – Ruud was sacked not long after that.”
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Sunderland won the Premier League match 2-1 in awful weather conditionsCredit: Getty
Gullit would later go on to apologise after the pair met at the 2014 World Cup in Rio de Janiero.
He said: “I introduced him to my wife and I said this is the fella who left me out, he said look ‘I am really sorry, I was Dutch, I was young and I was arrogant, I am totally different now – I got it wrong and I apologise’ and we have been good friends ever since.”
Listen to live commentary of Sunderland vs Newcastle on talkSPORT this Saturday, with kick-off at 12:45pm.
