Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has admitted that it would be "bizarre" to continue a recent record when his side meet Newcastle United in the Tyne-Wear derby on Sunday afternoon.

Paolo Di Canio, Gus Poyet and Dick Advocaat all celebrated victory over Newcastle after losing their first game in charge of the Black Cats.

Allardyce could match that achievement following a 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in his first match last weekend.

"If history follows itself, it is what is going to happen – that is what I hope, anyway," the former Newcastle boss told reporters.

"It has got very little to do with me, it is down to fate the fact that this run carries on. It is quite bizarre to say that they have won five on the trot and telling me the last three managers' second game was against Newcastle and they had all lost the first one and won the second one."

Sunderland have won the last five meetings with their fierce rivals.

Written by
Callum Mulvihill