It’s been a remarkable return to the Premier League for Sunderland. Regis Le Bris’ side have emphatically defied pre-season expectations, steering themselves clear of the relegation zone and pushing towards the top half of the table.
The Black Cats stumbled their way through the final third of the 2024-25 Championship campaign, before unexpectedly edging past Sheffield United at Wembley to end their eight-year hiatus from the top flight. The Opta Super Computer predicted Sunderland to finish rock-bottom of the Premier League, and the betting odds did not make particularly kind viewing for the Wearsiders, with the play-off winners priced up as second favourites for the drop, behind Burnley.
Bookmakers routinely predict that newly promoted teams will make an immediate return to the Championship, an approach that has been vindicated by the recent relegations of Ipswich, Southampton and Luton. Yet, Regis Le Bris’ team have emphatically bucked that trend, having reached the magical 40-point mark with a victory at Elland Road on March 3rd.
Pro-Sunderland Premier League punters may be eyeing up the possibility of the North East outfit gatecrashing the top half, with betting sites such as Star Sports offering 9/4 for the Black Cats to secure their spot in the top ten. This market is just one of countless options still available for bettors, with outright markets no longer restricted to the pre-season period. Furthermore, price boosts and free bets can also be used on these long-term flutters, so shopping around for the latest betting deals is advised for anyone who wishes to get involved ahead of the final few games of the campaign.
Sunderland haven’t finished above Newcastle since the 2015-16 campaign, when the struggling duo were separated by just two points. With just twelve miles between these old adversaries, the remaining nine fixtures will be pivotal in deciding who will be declared top dog in this part of the world.
Sunderland’s Remaining Fixtures
February was far from straightforward, with back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Liverpool, followed by a home humbling at the hands of Fulham. Rather than down tools and reflect on a successful first season back in the top flight, the Black Cats dusted themselves down and picked up four points from tricky trips to Bournemouth and Leeds.
They’ve won 50% of their matches at the Stadium of Light this season, with the recent defeat to Fulham generally considered to be a blip. On average, they’ve conceded less than a goal a game here and have taken points off both Arsenal and Manchester City.
Their remaining home fixtures could be tricky, although the visits of out-of-form Spurs and inconsistent Brighton should help them get back on track in Monkwearmouth. Nottingham Forest will be scrapping for survival, but they do tend to concede goals. The club’s final two home matches may help to shape the battle for third place, with both Manchester United and Chelsea pencilled in for visits to this stadium in May.
There are just four away games left, yet the first of those is a short hop to St. James’ Park. A trip to Everton shouldn’t be too taxing, and Sunderland fans will be hoping that Aston Villa’s inconsistent form continues all the way through until April 18th. A trip to Molineux may not be as straightforward as it may have been at the beginning of 2026.
Newcastle’s Remaining Fixtures
Newcastle will be buoyed by their 2-1 success against Manchester United at the beginning of March, but they still have to travel to leaders Arsenal and Champions League hopefuls Chelsea before the campaign concludes. Visits to the City Ground and Selhurst Park won’t be straightforward, although a trip to Craven Cottage in late May is likely to be a far more leisurely affair.
Notwithstanding defeats to Everton, Brentford, and Aston Villa recently, St. James’ Park remains a tough place to visit for the majority of away sides, and the schedule is relatively kind. Bournemouth and Brighton shouldn’t cause too many issues, although West Ham could still be scrapping for survival.
Sunderland’s visit is just four days after the club’s second-leg Champions League clash with Barcelona. Their squad may be stretched by the sheer volume of commitments and will need to recover quickly from the Wednesday evening trip to Catalonia.
Local Bragging Rights Up for Grabs
At the beginning of the season, it would have been unthinkable that Sunderland could challenge their neighbours for a top-half finish in the top flight. Nevertheless, they are separated by just a single point, having played the same number of games.
Sunderland has the advantage of an extra home game and the lack of European commitments, although they will be expected to beat Port Vale in the FA Cup and progress to the fifth round of the competition.
Newcastle’s home fixtures are much kinder than Sunderland’s, yet their away games appear to be slightly tougher. The meeting between the two sides at St. James’ Park on March 22nd will have a profound influence on the finishing positions of these sides; however, there is a realistic chance of them ending the campaign side by side in the upper echelons of the Premier League table.
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