Steve McClaren hopes good derby memories help him this weekend
Saturday 24 October 2015 23:13, UK
Steve McClaren hopes being thrown in at the deep end by Sir Alex Ferguson the first time he took a team into a derby stands him in good stead when Newcastle face Sunderland on Sunday.
The St James' Park manager will lead his side into the meeting with their local rivals hoping he can be as successful as he was when he took temporary charge of Manchester United 15 years ago.
Back then, Ferguson handed the reins briefly to McClaren in his then capacity as first-team coach at Old Trafford for a clash with Manchester City as he went to South Africa to attend his son's wedding.
It proved to be a memorable occasion for the man who would later manage England, with the player he had as captain at that stage of his career - David Beckham - scoring the winner at Maine Road.
The free kick gave them a 1-0 victory and the experience is something which remains in the 54-year-old's mind ahead of the trip to the Stadium of Light.
McClaren said: "The biggest highlight was the first derby I took charge of, which was Man United v Man City.
"Sir Alex had gone away to his son's wedding in South Africa and I had to do the game, so that was pretty nerve-wracking and one I remember very well.
"He told me a few weeks before the game, so I didn't sleep for a long time. He rang me from South Africa after.
"I have got to thank again, as I have on other occasions, David Beckham for winning that game.
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"Derby games are special no matter. I've had a few in different countries. I'm looking forward to this one. I can't wait for the atmosphere.
"The fans make the atmosphere, but we want to win, as we do every week, but especially this week. We want to get a result for the fans."
Newcastle go to Sunderland having finally won their first Premier League match of the season when they defeated Norwich 6-2 last weekend.
McClaren maintains their approach is still the same, however, and added: "Momentum is a big thing and that's what we've got to do, no matter who the opponent is.
"It just happens to be Sunderland. The effects of it, no, we are not going to get carried away. We tried not to in the first eight games - it's been difficult - but we tried not to.
"We definitely haven't got carried away by last week's game and whatever happens on Sunday, we are definitely not going to get carried away one way or the other by the result."
Watch Sunderland v Newcastle on Super Sunday from 11.30am on Sky Sports 1
