Sunderland vs. Newcastle: Top 5 moments from the Tyne-Wear derby
Sunderland and Newcastle United will meet Sunday in what's expected to be a hotly contested 151st edition of the Tyne-Wear derby.
It's a rivalry of both hostility and history, as the poor relations between the cities date back to the English Civil War.
Steve McClaren's side will make the journey to the Stadium of Light with some trepidation: The Magpies haven't managed a win against Sunderland in seven attempts.
Here's a look back at five of the most memorable moments from the Tyne-Wear derby:
1985: Peter Beardsley's hat-trick
Over thirty years after the fact, Newcastle fans still sing about Peter Beardsley's three-goal masterclass on New Year's Day.
The 23-year-old's pace and skill had already won the hearts of the Toon Army shortly after his 1983 move, and at the opening of 1985 he etched his name into Geordie folklore.
Newcastle's 3-1 win was shrouded in controversy. The Mackems had two sent off in the tie and the mesmeric Beardsley's opening double came courtesy of two debatable calls.
1990: Great rivals battle it out for promotion
In May 1990, third-placed Newcastle and sixth-placed Sunderland met in the semi-finals of the second division playoffs, with the former expected to secure an instant return to the top flight.
Against all odds, Sunderland cantered to a 2-0 away victory after a fiery 0-0 draw in the first leg, despite the best efforts of Newcastle fans who invaded the pitch in a bid to get the tie abandoned.
The Mackems lost to Swindon in the final, but were handed promotion anyway after the Robins were found guilty of tax dodging. Cashback.
1999: Gullit pays price for benching Shearer and Ferguson
When Ruud Gullit was appointed Newcastle manager in 1998, the Dutchman promised a sexy brand of football in Tyneside, but the fans were turned off for good by a contentious decision entering Sunderland's visit.
The manager dropped Duncan Ferguson, but more harmful was the benching of Alan Shearer. Yes, Shearer, a man more Newcastle than fog on the River Tyne, Brown Ale, and bloated, tattooed bellies.
Paul Robinson (who?) led the line instead and Sunderland beat its great rival 2-1 at St James' Park. Chairman Freddy Shepherd promptly sent Gullit packing.
Kevin Phillips scored an absolute pearler with the winner, too:
(Courtesy: lewwj)
2006: Shearer wraps up career with derby win
Although he limped off before the final whistle, Alan Shearer can happily say that in his last game he scored his 206th and final goal for Newcastle against its hated rival.
His was the third in a 4-1 win, and the day was made more memorable for the Magpies as the result compounded misery on their foe who ended the season with a then-record low of 15 points in a Premier League campaign.
2008: Sunderland exacts revenge two years later
Without a home win against Newcastle in 28 years, Kieran Richardson was the subject of hero worship after his free-kick downed the Magpies in 2008.
Joey Barton was flown into the game by helicopter amid concerns over his safety. Each touch of the ball from the midfielder was greeted by boos from the Stadium of Light faithful upon his return from suspension for assaulting former Manchester City teammate Ousmane Dabo.
After the relegation heartache two seasons earlier, the end of this term saw Newcastle drop into the second tier. To make things even sweeter for Black Cats fans, the Magpies' relegation came despite the best efforts of Toon hero and caretaker manager Alan Shearer.