AS the focus in the Newcastle United camp turned towards an important Europa League group fixture, versatile defender James Perch admitted he would prefer to play Sunderland every week.

The Magpies are preparing for the visit of Belgium's Club Brugge on Thursday night and head into it having secured a point with ten-men at the Stadium of Light.

Perch believes Newcastle's resilience on Wearside on Sunday has strengthened the squad's confidence, having been reminded - if one was needed - of the defensive prowess of skipper Fabricio Coloccini.

But rather than be satisfied to have the Sunderland game out of the way until they meet again in April, Perch would be more than happy to be facing their North-East rivals again - and again.

"I really look forward to the derby games," said Perch. "There is a great buzz around the city when they are coming up. You hear the fans talking about it a couple of weeks before and that gets you going.

"I don't think it would be right to say we're glad the game is out of the way. If we could play Sunderland next week then we would. You look forward to taking on your closest rivals and beating them.

"We look forward to Thursday now and the Brugge game, which is massive for us. If we win, then all of a sudden the Europa League looks good for us. But the Sunderland occasions are great occasions to be involved in."

Newcastle looked in control and destined to win at the Stadium of Light for a second year in a row after Yohan Cabaye had secured an early lead.

But after Cheik Tiote was red carded for a late, high tackle on Steven Fletcher - which Perch reflected 'you can't go around doing that … it was a bad tackle' - Sunderland found a breakthrough with the help of Demba Ba late on.

"There is definitely a bit of frustration, especially when I look at the goal we conceded and the timing of it," he said. "But I think if you look at the game, deep down they will be more disappointed than us.

"We only had ten men for almost 70 minutes and they couldn't break us down for most of that time. It will be a good point when we look back on it after a day or so.

"It was a disappointed dressing room after the match, and the disappointment was mixed with frustration because they scored so late on. But we worked so, so hard and I believe we can take a lot of positives from the game."

Newcastle's ability to keep out Sunderland for the majority of the game was largely to do with the way Coloccini marshalled his defence alongside the superb Mike Williamson.

Perch, used as a holding midfielder on Sunday, has been filling in for those two so far this season and he was glowing in praise for Newcastle's Argentine skipper.

"Colo is like that every week, to be fair," said Perch, with Coloccini unlikely to face Brugge because of the calf problem picked up at Sunderland.

"We have got used to those sort of performances over the years. To be fair, he is one of the hardest workers in training and is always out there on the training pitch really early.

"The guy is a great role model for us all because he does the right things all the time. He could hardly walk when he was subbed.

"He had a problem with his calf and was struggling a bit. But that is the courage of the man. He's a great leader and, for me, it's his composure that makes him a top class player.

"He's been out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury, that was his first game back in a while, and he was absolutely superb. That shows the character of the man."

With Tiote set to be sidelined for three domestic games through suspension, Perch is one of the options to slot in to fill the void.

He said: "I don't mind playing the defensive midfield role at all. That's perfectly fine with me. I will play wherever the gaffer wants me to play, although he has a few who can play in there."