Sam Allardyce hails 'massive' derby win for Sunderland
Sunday 25 October 2015 16:43, UK
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce is looking up the table after a "massive" 3-0 derby win over Newcastle.
Adam Johnson put the hosts in front with a late first-half penalty after Fabricio Coloccini was sent off, before Billy Jones and Steven Fletcher sealed a superb win for the Black Cats.
Allardyce becomes the fourth Sunderland boss to face and beat Newcastle in his second game in charge, earning the Black Cats their sixth successive derby win.
And the former Newcastle manager - who is also the first person to manage both sides in this fixture - hailed the importance of Sunday's victory - despite admitting his side may have been lucky to be awarded the penalty for their opener.
"That was an incredible stat when you think about it - not just winning five in a row but also the last three managers winning their second game against Newcastle," he said.
"I'm the fourth manager to do that, and we can only hope it gives us great confidence and takes us forward from here.
"It's a massive result in a massive derby match, taking credit out of the fact we've been a little fortunate with the first goal.
"But you get these things for you in a game of football and you've got to take advantage of that, and we've managed to do that today.
"In the end we've won comfortably 3-0 against 10 men, and it was a massive game for us. It's our first win."
Sunderland moved up to 18th in the Premier League table with the win - their first of the season - leapfrogging Newcastle in the process.
Allardyce saluted the fans but is already looking ahead as he bids to lift the club out of the relegation zone.
"They go home talking about a new record, six wins on the trot, and keeping it going for as long as we possibly can", he added.
"In the history of the football club it's a magnificent effort by us today, and by previous managers before me.
"But the main objective is, can we use this to get out of trouble? Can we use it to spur ourselves to get out of the bottom three and stay out of the bottom three?
"You're forgiven for anything you've done before when you win this game. And I just hope we can go on to better things."
