Sunderland fans are absolutely loving Chris Coleman’s comments about Newcastle

Sunderland fans in the Tavern loved manager Chris Coleman’s comments today when he claimed that playing Middlesbrough isn’t a derby game – only Newcastle is. Coleman’s rock-bottom Sunderland are hosting a Middlesbrough side that sit 8th in the Championship.

The defiant words from Coleman come in spite of the fact that his side are sitting three points from safety in England’s second tier and have failed to win their last five games in the league. Meanwhile, Middlesbrough, under Tony Pulis, are looking to occupy a playoff place come the end of the season, they’re currently 8th and three points off of 6th placed Bristol City.

Chris Coleman: “I don’t think this is a derby match – Middlesbrough are a club down the road. Newcastle are our derby.” #SAFC

— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) February 22, 2018

Coleman’s words are sure to infuriate Middlesbrough fans although most Sunderland fans enjoyed – and agreed – with the sentiment that only Newcastle matters as far as football in the Northeast is concerned. Fans of the Black Cats will be hoping that Coleman can infuriate ‘Boro further and inflict defeat on their neighbours for the first time in over five years.

Sunderland are looking increasingly likely to playing alongside Doncaster, Gillingham and Portsmouth next season however as Coleman has been unable to lift his side out of the bottom three since being appointed in November after a very successful spell with Wales in which he took them to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.