As Newcastle fans enjoy a rare relaxed end to the season, there has been some amusement added by events down at Sunderland.
Obviously the fact they have been absolutely shocking on the pitch all season (six wins in 43 games) has been a bonus for black and whites.
However, this growing paranoia from the Wearside club that Newcastle fans are going to start helping them to fill their ground, is reaching epic proportions.
It started with rumours on social media that some Newcastle fans were supposedly planning on going to the final Sunderland home game of the season, against Wolves.
Sunderland panicked at this and banned all cash turnstiles for the final three games AND insisted that all fans looking to buy tickets for these remaining Stadium of Light matches, would have to prove they were a Sunderland fan by having a previous purchasing history of buying tickets.
Wednesday saw Sky Sports come out with the most bizarre story yet on the subject, claiming that Sunderland had identified Newcastle fans who’d got hold of Wolves tickets for this last game of the season, and had cancelled those tickets.
The story has been repeated all over the media, without any local or national journalists stopping to thinks of how daft the story/idea is.
Wolves have had a brilliant season, already promoted, and will desperate to get a ticket for this final game. With less than 3,000 tickets allocated, it was easy to check (though not for journalists apparently…) and find out that to have got hold of one of these tickets, you would have to be a Wolves season ticket holder who also goes to loads of away matches.
So the idea that a number of Newcastle fans had got hold of them was laughable.
The article on The Mag ridiculing the Sky Sports claims was put up as a subject on the main Wolves message board (see below) and the truth about these mysterious ‘Newcastle fans’ quickly became apparent.
If you look at the comment in bold below, it turns out one Wolves fan posted a photo of his and his mates’ tickets on social media, then a Newcastle fan has used that image and claimed they’d got hold of them.
The sleuths at Sunderland have then on that evidence cancelled the tickets (which didn’t have seat numbers covered up in the image) and some very frustrated/angry Wolves fans are now attempting to get the tickets validated again.
Yet another own goal for our Mackem friends and Sky Sports.
Unless these Newcastle fans have been to several Wolves away matches, they wouldn’t have even had a chance to get a ticket.
Wolves have repeatedly requested more tickets and will continue to do so but at the moment there is no movement.
NEWCASTLE 2 ARSENAL 1 (Perez, Ritchie)
Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett, Ritchie (Murphy 86), Diamé, Shelvey, Kenedy, Pérez (Joselu 79), Gayle (Slimani 63)
Subs: Clark, Hayden, Manquillo, Darlow
LEICESTER 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Shelvey, Perez)
Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett, Ritchie, Diamé (Hayden 81), Shelvey, Kenedy (Atsu 64), Pérez, Gayle (Joselu 70)
Subs: Clark, Manquillo, Merino, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 1 HUDDERSFIELD 0 (Perez)
Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett, Ritchie (Atsu 67), Shelvey, Diamé (Hayden 79), Kenedy, Pérez, Gayle (Slimani 75)
Subs: Clark, Murphy, Manquillo, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 3 SOUTHAMPTON 0 (Kenedy, Ritchie)
Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey (Merino 83), Diamé, Kenedy (Atsu 78), Pérez, Gayle (Joselu 69)
Subs: Clark, Murphy, Manquillo, Darlow, Atsu
LIVERPOOL 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Dubravka, Lejeune, Lascelles, Dummett, Yedlin, Diamé, Merino (Hayden 73), Kenedy, Atsu, Murphy (Pérez 84), Gayle (Joselu 66)
Subs: Clark, Ritchie, Manquillo, Darlow
BOURNEMOUTH 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle 2)
Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett, Ritchie (Manquillo 84), Shelvey, Diamé, Kenedy (Atsu 64), Pérez, Gayle (Hayden 78)
Subs: Clark, Joselu, Merino, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 1 MAN UTD 0 (Ritchie)
Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Diamé, Kenedy (Atsu 84), Pérez (Hayden 90+4), Gayle (Joselu 80)
Subs: Murphy, Manquillo, Merino, Darlow
CRYSTAL PALACE 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Diamé)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Diamé (Hayden 65), Shelvey, Kenedy (Atsu 57), Pérez (Merino 80), Gayle
Subs: Murphy, Dubravka, Manquillo, Lejeune
NEWCASTLE 1 BURNLEY 1 (Lascelles)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu (Murphy 64), Diamé, Merino, Kenedy (Ritchie 72), Pérez (Gayle 85), Joselu
Subs: Shelvey, Gayle, Hayden, Manquillo, Woodman
CHELSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Darlow, Manquillo (Murphy 77), Mbemba, Lascelles, Clark, Haidara, Hayden (Atsu 83), Saivet, Shelvey, Ritchie, Gayle (Joselu 64),
Subs: Dummett, Diamé, Yedlin, Woodman
MAN CITY 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Murphy)
Darlow, Manquillo (Yedlin 66), Hayden, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Murphy, Shelvey, Diamé, Atsu (Pérez 64), Joselu (Gayle 76)
Subs: Elliot, Ritchie, Merino, Haidara
NEWCASTLE 1 SWANSEA 1 (Joselu)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Shelvey (Merino 82), Diamé, Ritchie, Pérez, Atsu, Gayle (Joselu 64)
Subs: Elliot, Murphy, Hayden, Manquillo, Haidara
FAC NEWCASTLE 3 LUTON TOWN 1 (Perez 2, Shelvey)
Woodman, Manquillo, Lascelles (Hayden 30), Clark, Dummett, Murphy, Shelvey (Diamé 71), Merino (Saivet 81), Ritchie, Pérez, Gayle
Subs: Aarons, Joselu, Haidara, Darlow
STOKE CITY 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Perez)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Manquillo, Shelvey, Diamé, Murphy (Dummett 82), Atsu (Gayle 64), Ritchie, Pérez (Hayden 90).
Subs: Joselu, Merino, Haidara, Woodman
NEWCASTLE 0 BRIGHTON 0
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (Pérez 72), Hayden, Merino (Shelvey 76), Atsu, Joselu (Murphy 84), Gayle
Subs: Diamé, Mbemba, Manquillo, Woodman
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 1
Elliot, Yedlin, Mbemba (Merino 77), Lascelles, Dummett, Manquillo, Aarons (Atsu 71), Diamé, Shelvey, Murphy, Joselu (Gayle 62).
Sub: Clark, Ritchie, Pérez, Darlow
WEST HAM 2 NEWCASTLE 3 (Saivet, Diamé, Atsu)
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Manquillo, Ritchie, Saivet (Mbemba 84'), Diamé, Atsu (Murphy 90+1'), Gayle (Pérez 76'), Joselu
Subs: Dummett, Aarons, Haidara, Darlow
ARSENAL 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo, Murphy (Gayle 67), Merino (Diamé 82), Hayden, Atsu (Ritchie 54), Joselu, Pérez
Subs: Clark, Dummett, Aarons, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 0 EVERTON 1
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo, Merino (Pérez 86), Shelvey, Atsu, Diamé (Joselu 67), Ritchie (Aarons 74), Gayle
Subs: Elliot, Clark, Murphy, Hayden
NEWCASTLE 2 LEICESTER CITY 3 (Joselu, Gayle)
Darlow, Yedlin, LejeuneBooked, Clark, Manquillo, Ritchie (Atsu 64), Hayden, Merino, Murphy (Pérez 71), Joselu (Mitrovic 88), Gayle
Subs: Elliot, Lascelles, Shelvey, Diamé
CHELSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gayle)
Darlow, Mbemba, Lejeune, Clark, Manquillo, Diamé (Shelvey 75), Merino (Yedlin 85), Ritchie, Murphy, Pérez (Hayden 62), Gayle
Subs: Elliot, Aarons, Joselu, Mitrovic
WEST BROM 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Clark, Rondon og)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lejeune, Clark, Mbemba, Hayden (Shelvey 80), Merino, Ritchie, Pérez, Murphy (Aarons 64), Joselu (Mitrovic 73)
Subs: Elliot, Gayle, Diamé, Manquillo
NEWCASTLE 0 WATFORD 3
Elliot, Yedlin, Lejeune, Clark, Manquillo, Ritchie, Shelvey, Diamé (Merino 69), Murphy (Pérez 77), Gayle, Joselu (Mitrovic 69)
Subs: Aarons, Mbemba, Darlow, Gámez
MAN UTD 4 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gayle)
Elliot, Yedlin, Lejeune, Clark, Manquillo, Murphy, Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie (Aarons 66), Gayle (Diamé 77), Joselu (Mitrovic 71)
Subs: Pérez, Mbemba, Darlow, Gámez
NEWCASTLE 0 BOURNEMOUTH 1
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles (Clark 55), Lejeune, Manquillo, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Atsu (Murphy 82), Gayle, Joselu (Pérez 68)
Subs: Diamé, Darlow, Gámez, Mitrovic
BURNLEY 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo, Shelvey, Diamé (Gayle 83), Ritchie (Murphy 79), Pérez (Hayden 76), Atsu, Joselu
Subs: Clark, Saivet, Darlow, Gámez
NEWCASTLE 1 CRYSTAL PALACE 0 ((Merino)
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo, Hayden (Merino 56), Shelvey, Ritchie, Pérez (Diamé 66), Atsu, Joselu (Mitrovic 78)
Subs: Clark, Murphy, Darlow, Gámez
SOUTHAMPTON 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Hayden, Perez)
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Atsu (Murphy 82), Perez (Merino 63), Joselu (Gayle 69).
Subs: Darlow, Clark, Gamez, Diame.
NEWCASTLE 1 LIVERPOOL 1 (Joselu)
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Manquillo, Shelvey, Merino (Hayden 74), Ritchie, Pérez (Diamé 90+1), Atsu, Joselu (Gayle 79)
Subs: Murphy, Lejeune, Darlow, Gámez
BRIGHTON 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba (Gámez 83'), Hayden (Shelvey 68'), Merino, Ritchie, Pérez, Atsu, Joselu (Gayle 71')
Subs: Murphy, Diamé, Manquillo, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 2 STOKE CITY 1 (Atsu, Lascelles)
Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba, Hayden (Shelveyat 69'), Merino, Ritchie, Pérez (Diamé 86'), Atsu, Joselu (Gayle 78')
Subs: Murphy, Manquillo, Lejeune, Woodman
SWANSEA 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Lascelles)
Elliot, Manquillo, Clark, Lascelles, Gamez, Hayden (Diame 69), Merino, Ritchie, Perez, Murphy (Atsu 59), Joselu (Gayle 78).
Unused subs: Shelvey, Lejeune, Yedlin, Woodman.
NEWCASTLE 3 WEST HAM 0 (Clark, Joselu, Mitrovic)
Elliot, Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba, Merino, Hayden (Diaméat 82'), Ritchie (Murphy 88'), Pérez, Atsu, Joselu (Mitrovic 72')
Subs: Aarons, Saivet. Gámez, Woodman
LC NEWCASTLE 2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 3 (Mitrovic, Aarons)
Darlow; Sterry (Lazaar, 58), Hanley, Mbemba, Gamez; Saivet, Barlaser (Hayden, 70); Murphy, Diame, Aarons (Ritchie, 76); Mitrovic (Joselu, 105).
Subs not used: Woodman, Lascelles, Manquillo.
HUDDERSFIELD 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba, Hayden (Diame 76), Merino, Atsu, Perez (Murphy 80), Ritchie, Gayle (Joselu 52).
Subs not used: Saivet, Aarons, Darlow, Mitrovic.
NEWCASTLE 0 TOTTENHAM 2
Elliot, Manquillo, Lejeune (Mbemba 34'), Clark, Dummett (Lascelles 7'), Shelvey, Hayden, Ritchie, Pérez, Atsu, Gayle (Merinoat 76')
Subs: Murphy, Aarons, Merino, Darlow, Mitrovic
PRE-SEASON
NEWCASTLE 2 HELLAS VERONA 0 (Perez, Atsu)
Elliot (Darlow 64), Manquillo (Gamez 64), Lejeune (Lascelles 64), Clark (Mbemba 64), Dummett (Merino 64), Ritchie, Shelvey (Aarons 64), Hayden, Atsu (Murphy 64), Perez (De Jong 72), Mitrovic (Diame 64)
WOLFSBERG 1 NEWCASTLE 3 (Mitrovic, Ritchie Pen, Atsu)
Elliot (Darlow, 70), Manquillo (Mbemba, 70), Lejeune (Lascelles, 70), Clark, Dummett (Gamez, 70), Ritchie (Murphy, 70), Shelvey, Hayden (Merino, 70), Atsu (Aarons, 70), Perez (de Jong, 70), Mitrovic (Diame, 46).
Subs not used: Colback, Gayle.
MAINZ 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gamez)
Darlow (Woodman 60), Yedlin (Manquillo 27), Clark (Mbemba 46), Lejuene (Merino 79), Dummett (Gamez 46), Colback (Shelvey 60), Diame (Perez 60), Murphy (Hayden 60), Ritchie (Aarons 46), De Jong (Atsu 60), Mitrovic (Gayle 60)
BRADFORD CITY 0 NEWCASTLE 4 (Gayle, Murphy 2, Mitrovic)
Elliot (Woodman, 61), Yedlin (Manquillo, 46), Lejeune (Mbemba, 61), Clark (Saivet, 77), Dummett (Gamez, 61), Atsu (De Jong, 61), Shelvey (Aarons, 61), Hayden (Colback, 77), Ritchie (Murphy, 46), Perez (Diame, 46), Gayle (Mitrovic, 61).
PRESTON 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Mitrovic)
Elliot (Darlow, 46, Woodman, 70), Mbemba, Hanley (Yedlin, 46), Lejeune (Manquillo, 77), Dummett (Clark, 46), Atsu (Murphy, 46), Diame (Colback, 46), Shelvey (Hayden, 46), Aarons (Perez, 46), de Jong (Roberts, 62), Mitrovic (Gayle, 46).
HEARTS 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle 2)
Elliot (Woodman 63), Aarons(Gamez 46), Clark (Dummett 46), Mbemba (Hanley 62), Lascelles (Lejeune 46), Haidara (Colback 62), Shelvey (Saivet 46), Diame (Armstrong 62), De Jong (Lazaar 75), Atsu (Perez 46), Gayle (Mitrovic 46)