Paul Dummett, defender for Newcastle United, has responded to the FA Cup third-round draw.
The Magpies have been drawn away at Sunderland, who they have not played in a competitive match against since 2016. Dummett was one of just two players on the field for Newcastle against Sunderland the last time they met, the other being captain Jamaal Lascelles.
While Newcastle is now in the Premier League and the Champions League, and Sunderland is in the Championship, the Tyneside team has not beaten their rivals since 2011. Lower-league opposition has also knocked Eddie Howe’s side out of the FA Cup in the third round in each of the last two seasons.
Newcastle defeated Manchester United 1-0 at St James’ Park to maintain their unbeaten run in the Premier League. Following the match, Geordie defender Dummett resorted to social media to express his feelings.
“This weekend just got better,” Dummett tweeted.
Newcastle has been demoted to the Championship, promoted back to the Premier League, and now competes in the Champions League since the teams last played in a league match. Meanwhile, Sunderland was relegated again to League One, where they spent four seasons, winning the Papa John’s Trophy, before returning to the Championship in 2022.
While Newcastle reached the Carabao Cup final last season and is already in the quarter-finals this season, Eddie Howe’s side has a significantly different FA Cup record. In each of the previous two seasons, the Magpies were knocked out in the third round against League One opposition.
In 2022, Cambridge United triumphed 1-0 at St James’ Park. Along with Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Borussia Dortmund, the U’s are one of just five clubs to have defeated Howe’s Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Newcastle were defeated 2-1 at Sheffield Wednesday last season. The club’s most recent domestic honor is the 1955 FA Cup victory.
