Gordon: Sunderland “not very good” after derby defeat

Gordon’s Brutal Verdict After Derby Defeat

Anthony Gordon did not hold back after Newcastle United’s 2-1 defeat to rivals Sunderland, claiming:

“They’re not a very good team compared to us.”

What Happened?

• Newcastle led through Gordon
• Sunderland came back to win 2-1
• Goals from:
  • Chemsdine Talbi
  • Brian Brobbey

Sunderland completed a league double over their rivals

Derby Record Worsens

• Newcastle winless in 11 league derbies
• Longest run without victory in fixture history

A painful statistic for the Magpies

Gordon’s Reaction

Gordon admitted:

• “Not good enough”
• Poor second-half performances recurring
• No excuses

But added:

Newcastle are still the better side on paper

Stats vs Reality

Newcastle

• More shots: 409 vs 306
• Higher xG: 46.7 vs 30.3
• More possession: 52.9%

Sunderland

• More efficient
• Better game management
• Strong mentality

Numbers favour Newcastle — results favour Sunderland

Key Issue: Mentality

• Newcastle dropped 22 points from winning positions
• Sunderland only 8
• Sunderland gained 19 points from losing positions

Biggest difference = resilience

Injury Update

• Sven Botman
• Suffered facial fracture
• Underwent surgery
• Expected back before season end

Table Impact

• Sunderland → 11th (43 pts)
• Newcastle → 12th (42 pts)

Rivals now ahead in standings

Bigger Picture

This defeat comes after:

• Heavy Champions League exit vs Barcelona

A difficult week for Eddie Howe’s side

Bottom Line

Gordon’s words highlight a deeper issue:

Newcastle may be better on paper

But Sunderland are better where it matters — results

And in derbies, that’s all that counts.