Jack Ross had said he was unwilling to “dress this game up as something it’s not” but neither set of supporters listened to Sunderland’s manager.
Deep down, almost everyone accepted it failed to constitute a “proper” north-east derby and compensated by simply pretending it was. Accordingly, within the first 11 minutes there were two earsplitting, giant, bangs made by firecrackers released in the away end and the scent of smoke filled the cool January night air.
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