Sunderland under-18s begin their merits group with a Tyne-Wear derby on Saturday.
Date: Saturday 11 March 2017
Time: 11am
Location: Newcastle United’s training ground
Competition: U18 Premier League
Newcastle United: DLDLD
Newcastle United finished in Group C following a poor run of form in the final stage of their U18 Premier League campaign.
Collecting just three points from their final five matches, the Magpies have found life tough going recently following defeats to Stoke City and Everton.
Sunderland: LWDLW
Mark Atkinson’s side romped through the gears in the closing stages of their league season to climb off the foot of the table.
Two wins and a draw saw the Black Cats collect seven points from their final five matches, but now the challenge will be for them to maintain that form.
The Last five...
Feb 14 2017 – Newcastle United U18 2-2 Sunderland U18
Jan 1 2017 – Sunderland U18 3-4 Newcastle United U18
Sept 10 2016 – Sunderland U18 0-1 Newcastle United U18
Feb 16 2016 – Sunderland U18 1-0 Newcastle United U18
Sept 19 2015 – Newcastle United U18 0-3 Sunderland U18
Focus: Jack Diamond
We focused in on Jack Diamond in the last edition of ‘On the Ball’ and the jinky winger certainly delivered a match-winning performance last time out. Diamond netted a brace to steer the Black Cats to a pleasing 2-0 victory over Stoke City in February, and has since trained with the first team and featured on the under-23s bench at Blackburn Rovers.
