Two Pools confident

Steven Taylor has spoken out about defending our long term unbeaten record at Weirdside, with the 28 years of pure, unadultered joy a prize stat in the Newcastle locker. Taylor has had a rocky patch with the under 21s recently but didn`t have a bad game against the Citeh. Tayls said:

'We know about Newcastle's record at Sunderland and we are not even thinking about the possibility of a defeat. Our priority is to go there and win the game. As a Geordie, the derbies against Sunderland are the first games you look for when the fixtures come out, and I am glad the first game is away.

The main thing now is that we are going there (Sunderland) full of confidence after playing Manchester City with 10 men. The lads showed a lot of character and performed to their best. When the going gets tough, it's up to the boys to stand up and be counted.

It has been a difficult few months, but the lads have got on with it well. Joe Kinnear has come in as manager and taken the pressure off the players. He has given us confidence and we are much more confident as a team.'

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.