New Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has claimed that he understands the importance of this weekend's Wear-Tyne derby against Newcastle United.
In just his second game in charge of the Black Cats, Allardyce and his players will take on their biggest rivals Newcastle in a bottom-of-the-table clash at the Stadium of Light.
"The feeling in the North-East runs passionately as we all know," Allardyce told BBC Radio 5 live.
"In the last few seasons they've been fighting around the relegation zone, but whenever this game has come around, they've produced a performance that you'd like to see every week. Winning these games means everything to the Sunderland fans."
Allardyce's first game in charge resulted in a 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion.
