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Premier League: Gus Poyet believes Sunderland can turn their season around with a win against Newcastle

Image: Poyet's side travel to St James' Park searching for their first win in seven games.

Gus Poyet believes a win for Sunderland over Newcastle on Sunday would be the “perfect” way to being turning around his side’s season.

The Black Cats make the short trip to St James’ Park at the weekend searching for their first win in seven league games.

Sunderland have slipped to 15th in the Premier League having only picked up four points since beating Crystal Palace away at the beginning of November.

But, the Wearsiders have beaten fiercest rivals Newcastle in the last three meetings, a record that the Sunderland head coach is hoping will continue.

The biggest and best game to do it is in the derby, so it would be a perfect start.
Gus Poyet

"As everybody knows, this is a very special game,” he said. “Everything is different, everything stops and the only thing that people want, of course, is to win. So it makes that a really great day of football.

“When you're on the winning side it's fantastic, it's great, the feeling is unique, so you need to try as hard as you can not to be in the losing side. So, it's always special, something unique will always happen and we're trying to make sure that it is from us.

"There are key moments during the season and we are looking for that. Our idea is to go and win two or three in a row, which we haven't done, and that will change the season around.

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"The biggest and best game to do it is in the derby, so it would be a perfect start."

United host Sunderland on Sunday for the second time this year, hoping to take revenge after a 3-0 drubbing from Poyet’s men in February.

Uruguyan Poyet accepted it was an important game for the two sides, but pleaded with fans both home and away to show respect at the game towards one another.

“When you have a game of this magnitude for two cities, it is important to remain under control and be proud of your team whatever the result is the main thing,” he said.

"I think that the idea of having a friendly day in every aspect is fantastic. Supporting your team, making noise, celebrating in a nice manner, but I think being fair and respecting the opposition is the best way to play football really. There is no better way to enjoy (it).”

Newcastle will be without their first and second choice goalkeepers for the clash, with 21-year-old Jak Alnwick set to make his derby debut. 

Poyet, however, played down suggestions his side will target the youngster and instead his side will be treating it as a routine fixture.

He added: "Planning to do something different? No. Hitting the target? Yes. Putting the ball in the box? Yes. But that's every week, not because we are playing against this goalkeeper.

"Now, that doesn't mean that we are going to have a free-kick in our half and we are going to put it in the air and smash the goalkeeper. I hope it's a normal game, no accidents. I would like the game to be played normally, of course to win it and Alnwick to play 90 minutes and that there are no issues and there are no misunderstandings.

"But football, I cannot predict the future at the moment. We are going to play the game normally, I hope it's a normal game.

"Now, are we going to have a shot? Yes. Are we going to have a few crosses? I hope he is going to be under pressure. But it's more up to him than to the rest. The rest is all talking."

Watch Newcastle v Sunderland live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Sunday, programme starts at 12.30

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