Skip to main content

Roker Report

Sunderland AFC's foremost blog and Podcast!

Latest Entries

Lasses Match Review: Three Points and a Clean Sheet!

This weekend was one where football gives you everything you want and more. We had already been spoiled by the men’s derby win, a result that sent the whole city into a state of delirium. The adrenaline was still fizzing through us, the kind that makes your hands shake slightly and your thoughts race. It […]

On This Day (24 March 1989) Defender Eventually Pens New Deal As Ex-England Winger Departs

Reuben Agboola could have been forgiven for thinking he’d upset someone in a past life. Or perhaps broken a mirror or two when he’d been a kid. As a promising youngster he’d been given his Southampton debut by one Lawrie McMenemy, and had been touted for England recognition. The relationship between manager and player wasn’t […]

What Would A Successful End To Sunderland’s Season Look Like?

John Wilson says… It certainly isn’t “mission complete” because if we lost all of our remaining fixtures, I’d be quite disappointed at having let the season fizzle out. If we’ve assembled a group of players that are hungry and wanting to show their commitment and energy and passion — which I generally think we have […]

Fan Letters: “The Arrogance Of The Man Is Breathtaking!”

Want to have your say on all things Sunderland? Drop us a line and we’ll publish your views! [email protected] Dear Roker Report, If ever I needed reminding of why I have always disliked all things NUFC, Anthony Gordon has done just that. The arrogance of the man is breathtaking. Who the hell does he think […]

Editorial: Derby Delight!

Leading up to Sunday’s game, all of the talk centred around which of our injured players might be available, and it ended up becoming a bit of a distraction from what was actually important: the players who were definitely fit to play their part. Whilst I’m sure Régis Le Bris would have loved to have […]

Riggy Shows His Class In A High-Stakes Derby

Picture the scene… It’s the final week of January. Clubs around the country are scrambling to complete last-minute deals and after a good deal of speculation, it’s officially confirmed that Chris Rigg will be joining Hull City on loan for the remainder of the 2025/2026 season. To accompany the news, an official club statement is […]

2 Up, 2 Down: The Lads Have Done It Again!

Calum Mills says… Battling Brobbey! He was unbelievable and unplayable. He was being pulled from pillar to post by Dan Burn, but he held firm — winning headers, second balls and running down the channel when required. A proper number nine, and his movement for that second goal was top notch and after we’ve struggled […]

Matchday Musings: Talbi And Brobbey Save The Day For Sunderland

An absurd game of football, played out in two halves that could scarcely have been more contrasting, but another local derby that ended with yet more Sunderland jubilation and another dose of Newcastle heartbreak as the Lads showed defiance, desire and seemingly limitless persistence to turn around a 1-0 half time deficit and complete what […]

Sunderland Greats: George Holley

George Holley was born at Seaham Harbour in 1885 — a time when the club he would later play for in Sunderland AFC was only six years old and the Football League was yet to exist. In an era where the future of many of his school friends would encompass a lifetime in the pits […]

On This Day (23rd March 1996): Reid’s Sunderland Make It Eight In A Row!

Ah, the summer of 1996 – what a time to be alive. Euro 96’, three lions on a shirt, the mags had just blown their chance of winning the FA Carling Premiership, and Sunderland had won Division One to get back to the top flight when nobody expected them to. It came from nowhere, and […]

Andy’s Player Ratings: Newcastle United 1 – 2 Sunderland – Brobbey The Hero

Melker Ellborg: 7/10 Not overly tested in goal by the hosts and wasn’t particularly accurate with his kicking but got through the game well, despite some rough treatment at set pieces. Lutsharel Geertruida: 8/10 Geertruida was solid defensively at right back, not allowing much to come from his side of the pitch, and was good […]

Haway The Podcast | MATCHDAY PREVIEW | Skunks v SAFC | Get Into Them, Lads!

The day has finally come, and we return to Tyneside for the first meeting between Sunderland and N*wcastle at the shit tip for the first time in just over ten years. Join Gav, Andrew and Jonny as we ramp up to this afternoon’s game in the Premier League! Coming up… All this and more! Get […]

MLS

Starting XI: Is This How Sunderland Will Line Up Against The Hosts Today?

While it’d be nice to have a full strength squad for Regis Le Bris to pick from today, we’ve got a good group of players who’ll be desperate to follow up December’s derby win with another today. In reality, it’ll be a tough ask, but Le Bris and this team have pulled off big results […]

On This Day (22 March 1890): Black Cats Take The Local Bragging Rights!

It was cup final day, with local rivals Sunderland and Darlington hoping to take the honours and lift the Durham Challenge Cup. Two of the stronger clubs in the county, the pair had history in this particular competition and had been regular opponents over the years, with the most recent clash ending in a convincing […]

Score Predictions: Can Sunderland Do The Derby Double?

Martin Wanless predicts… Score prediction: Soul-Selling Scum 0, Glorious Righteous Red and Whites 1 Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Chris Rigg Look, it’s going to be a massive challenge, particularly with Sunderland having pretty much a whole team out injured. But, we’ve seen several times in the past year that we can pull magic results out of […]

Match Preview: Newcastle United v Sunderland — The Lads Take On The Visitors!

Sunday 22nd March 2026 Newcastle United v Sunderland – Premier League St James’ Park – Kick-Off: 12:00 Tickets & Match Coverage Tickets: Tickets are sold out. TV/Stream: Full live match coverage is available on Sky Sports. Radio: Full live match commentary available via BBC Radio Newcastle (not online) Don’t forget to follow the blow-by-blow account […]

Know Thyself: Sunderland’s Path to Derby Victory

Many centuries ago, Sun Tzu said in The Art of War: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, […]

Fan Focus: What Can We Expect From Newcastle In The Tyne-Wear Derby?

Newcastle were knocked out of the Champions League, conceding seven to Barcelona in midweek. Do you think this has increased the pressure massively to win the derby? I wouldn’t say it has increased the pressure as the pressure on Newcastle to win this game would have been huge regardless. Eddie Howe admitted their performance let […]