WE ASKED the Legends: Do you think Sunderland and Newcastle would be happy to avoid defeat rather than win the derby?

MICKY HORSWILL:

Of course yes, especially Sunderland, I would think, because they are the away team. A point for us would be great although we are desperate for a win but, if you are playing away from home, and especially a game like this, a point would be better.

Hopefully we can get a result and Darren Bent get a couple. It’s our biggest game of the season. When the fixtures come out, the one you look for first is Newcastle and that’s why we wanted them to come up because we wanted to play against them.

It’s the biggest game commercially and obviously we want to win but I’m sure we’d settle for a draw there and a win at our place. The last time we drew at St James’ and won at Sunderland so that’s what we’ll be looking for, and hopefully it will happen.

They’ve got a poor record at home but they’ve got some good wins away and they beat Aston Villa 6-0 earlier in the season.

They’ve got something we need to worry about and we’ll have to look out for that. They’ve got a lot of height in the team which we haven’t but hopefully we should be ok.

MALCOLM MACDONALD:

Certainly they won’t want to lose and would be happy with a draw. The most important thing for both sides will be to avoid defeat and I can see some tough tackling coming in but nevertheless I can imagine that it might just play to a draw. An exciting one but it will probably peter out because both sides will not want to lose.

Right now, Newcastle dare not lose this one. Right now their home record in the last four home games is lost four and drawn one in injury time – and that’s a dreadful record to be going into a game like this, so they have to overcome that.

I think there is confidence in the Sunderland camp although they don’t score the goals necessary to take the confidence onto the next level.

And we asked one Legend: Are you happy with the appointment of Tony Mowbray and do you think he is the right man to revive Boro?

BERNIE SLAVEN:

First of all, off the pitch, he’s the right man to connect with the public because the public, in the last few years, have had no connection with the club and the manager at all and they’ve been isolated and I include myself in that, I’m a fan.

But Mogga can reach them off the park and he’ll be the biggest PR man we’ve got. On the park, I’m delighted that he’s here.

He’s a man of honesty and integrity and principals and there’s not a lot of people in football that possess those qualities.

The football has been dire in the last few years at Middlesbrough and Mowbray, given time, his style will be good on the eye and good to watch. I’m not going to say we’ll win every game but we’ll be far more entertaining than we have been in previous years.

It wouldn’t be the end of the world if we don’t get a result on Saturday, but when a new manager comes in you’re looking for an instant boost – that doesn’t always happen.

McClaren didn’t win some of his first games and went on to do well but it would be great to get a good start and get three points on the board.

The Legends were talking to Steph Clark.

Listen to The Legends weekdays 6-8pm and Saturdays from 1pm on 100-102FM Real Radio.

Read their views every Saturday in Northern Echo Sport