Know Thyself: Sunderland’s Path to Derby Victory

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 14: Granit Xhaka of Sunderland organises his team mates during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Newcastle United at Stadium of Light on December 14, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images 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, you will succumb in every battle. ” As a good friend of mine remarks with regularity, we know them better than they know themselves, so Sun Tzu knew exactly what he was talking about. Maybe he was from Plains Farm.

“Know yourself and you will win all battles,” he added. And maybe it’s why Sunderland are on a 10-game unbeaten run against the hosts. You know what they say about pressure, don’t you?

It’s for tyres, and for 20-year-old mag YouTubers who haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing a derby victory in living memory. In contrast, there are five-year-old Sunderland fans who remember last December fondly. Though we must be aware of the hosts’ backlash, we should not fear it.