Sunderland taunt Middlesbrough as they end a 20-year wait for a win at the Riverside with a 3-2 victory on Monday night.
The Black Cats boosted their hopes for automatic promotion in what was a topsy-turvy game settled late through an Ryan Giles own goal to give Sunderland a first league win at the Riverside in 20 years and also a first league double over Boro since 1962.
The result keeps Sunderland just three points behind second-placed Sheffield United in the Championship table, and five points behind leaders Leeds with 16 games to go.
Boro, meanwhile, are 7th in the standings, outside of the play-off places on goal difference.
Better view of the head loss 😂 pic.twitter.com/EfRbYPYFk9
— Sam 🇬🇧 (@Sam1879_) February 3, 2025
enjoy ‘derby day’ lads? 😘 pic.twitter.com/CTeyI26305
— Anya (@anyachappellxx) February 3, 2025
Sunderland’s 20-year wait for a win at the Riverside is over! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/qvyXKEXqBe
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 3, 2025
Middlesbrough’s Michael Carrick, per Sky Sports:
“It’s very tough to take in those circumstances. We’ve got to accept it but we’re bitterly disappointed not to get anything from the game.
“I thought we started particularly well. We scored and looked dangerous and probably should have had another.
“Then a deflected goal goes in. Second half they score from nowhere. We responded pretty well and we thought we had the momentum. Then the game drifted a little and the goal right at the end is a tough one to take.”
Michael Carrick said per BBC Sport:
“It’s a horrible way to lose a game, especially a game of this significance and stature.
“To lose the game and concede those goals, an own goal and a deflection is difficult but we have to accept it.
“We started the game ever so well, went ahead, looked like we could add to that and were in a really good place. There was a two-goal swing which we dealt with well and we came back into it well, but we kind of drifted second half and didn’t do enough.
“The form is not a concern, but we have to win games, there’s no getting away from that.”
‘It’s an important win.’
RLB reflects on a huge three points at the Riverside… 📺⤵️ pic.twitter.com/QvyOCRfzQ6
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) February 3, 2025
“Today was a big collective win.” 💯
Wilson Isidor reacts to a very important Sunderland win over Middlesbrough 💬 pic.twitter.com/xrW65BxkX1
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 3, 2025
Wilson Isidor… Part-time footballer, part-time translator! 👏 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/rqVAM3WQ4C
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 3, 2025
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Sunderland’s Regis Le Bris, per Sky Sports:
“[Le Fee] needs to play more and he will find a good rhythm. He’s still at 70 per cent I think. He’s a hard worker, a good team-mate and he’s talented. So it’s good for us.
“I’m happy for the players, the clubs and the fans. It was a tough game with a difficult start. Our first half was difficult and I don’t know exactly why.
“If we play with more passion I’m sure we could win this game. I think the second half was really good and we showed that we can control the game, we can create chances.
“The second half was the way we want to play. Sometimes with a young team in a long league like this, it’s not easy to keep the consistency.
“I really liked the second half. The first one, we have to improve.”
Regis Le Bris said, per BBC Sport:
“Middlesbrough started very well, playing really good football. We conceded many situations so we were a little bit lucky not to concede a second goal.
“We stayed in the game, but it tested our patience as maybe we were a bit sloppy in possession.
“At half-time, we spoke about character, about playing with more passion. It was an intense game against a strong team and we had to play with 101%, not 80 or 85 or 90. And second half, we did that and we played a bit more vertical.
“This is a young team with talented players. It has a big margin, it is a question of how quick we can grow.”
If i could turn this off …. i would. Absolutely horrific. #SAFC
SCRATCH THAT WE JUST SCORED. pic.twitter.com/fguoaPelpF
— Victoria Burns (@victoria_b61793) February 3, 2025
Hang it in the fucking Louvre 😭 pic.twitter.com/RbRV4h8h14
— Luke (@SAFC_Luke_2703) February 3, 2025
Sunderland fans after their win at Middlesbrough last night. 👊👏 #SAFC pic.twitter.com/rCBpPHezD0
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) February 4, 2025
Here’s how fans reacted after Sunderland taunt Middlesbrough as they end 20-year wait for a win at the Riverside…
@Lauren_McLeish: Not a derby or nowt but I’m glad we beat that small town in North Yorkshire #SAFC
@mar_utb14: You can have all the attacking talent you like, and play the loveliest football in the world, but if you keep making mistakes and throwing games away at the level we are, you’re gunna struggle to get where you wanna be. I’m also absolutely devastated for Gilo 💔 Ugh. Tragic.
@ByDobson: how do we have Enzo Le Fee playing in the championship 🤣
@Ramma_____: The thing with Le Fee is, he’s not just doing tricks & step overs for the sake of it, they all take him past his man, leave defenders on their arse & creates space for a run or pass #SAFC
@LimbsSunderland: Give Le Fée the keys to the city
@HWhite789: You are going to get absolutely nowhere with a failed manager as Carrick’s main influencer. 5 year ago the bloke nearly relegated us and now he is telling carrick what to do.
@Jack_6697: Draw was a fair result. However, Ayling is the worst footballer I’ve ever seen but continues to play. Shouldn’t be anywhere near the team again.
@alfredmfc: All good going out and signing 5 attackers how about some competent defenders? Been awful all season defensively and somehow we have got worse in that area this window. Serious questions need to be asked
@lewisyates20: Absolute shambles defensively again! The fact we haven’t signed a solid RB is criminal! But, You can sign all the players you want @Boro but when your manager doesn’t have a plan B your already fucked, I’m a Carrick fan but he needs to learn to change things around when needed!
@We_are_Boro: Time for Carrick to go. Defence is and has been for some time a shambles. Bring a player back on a permanent who can’t pass a ball. Stuck with Ayling at RB, can’t run, can’t pass. Alright though because we’ve signed another winger.
@FTM1042: SAFC fan here – good game I really enjoyed the match. Both teams battling it out. Boro were on top first 25 mins of the game then we started to take control of the game. All best for rest of the season. 👊
@DannyGuitar91: Carrick I’ve enjoyed your time here but this is happening far too often , I’m sick of it
@GrahamH73: MOTM to Ayling for me always a yard off Le Fee, loved getting megged trying to get tight as well! All round brilliant performance from your captain 👀
@Johnsonator85: A team that plays Ayling, Edmondson and Giles in the same defence isn’t going anywhere. How have we ended up like this? We cannot defend and never have been able to under Carrick. This is why we’ll always be a nearly team and why Carrick has to go
@SAFC_Freddie: Well deserved victory for the biggest team in the north east, give Ryan Giles my love and my thanks, i’d say see you for the six points again next year BUT WE’RE GOING UP 🤣🤣🤣
@DavidHindmarsh7: 0 points in your 2 cup finals. Get it up yas
@kevdodds: Well done Sunderland I hope you go up 👏 No bitterness here. Glad a team around here in this league are showing us how it’s done. Carrick thinks Ayling is a footballer. And when we don’t make the play offs he goes. He’s had more than enough chance with exactly his team
@_TY_97: Never start Ayling again, not signing a Rb or Cb is going to derail this system, I’ve never seen a fullback get bullied and passed by like that ever, business is done as well man and we have Edmundson and Ayling starting
@IwanEvans19: Sign as many attackers as you want, we aren’t going anywhere under Michael Carrick. The same mistakes week after week, he needs to go at the end of the season!
WHEYYYYYY pic.twitter.com/46w3vzZ7ge
— abs🦦 (@AG17__) February 3, 2025

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