It was probably not the time to ask, because we had just put them in their place and we remain the "Cock of the North", but a lot more Geordies backed the Mackem relegation fight than we expected.
However, the same question was asked about Boro ... and a good 70% said "who gives a **** about them?"
So we ask you to place your comments on our message board. As Sunderland play Boro in a relegation face-off on Saturday ... who would like to see stay up ... or go down?
Meanwhile, Sunderland captain Dean Whitehead says the Black Cats must quickly lift their deflated fans after losing yesterday's Tyne-Wear derby.
Sunderland's derby against Middlesbrough is a poor relation compared to meeting the Geordies, but Boro are up next for Whitehead & Co with Roy Keane's men still not guaranteed Premier League survival.
Whitehead: "It was a disappointing day all round. It's difficult to take a defeat against Newcastle.
"Everyone is gutted, but we just have to forget about this now, pick ourselves up and go again next week.
"We've got another big game on Saturday against Middlesbrough, and we're on our home patch, so we've got to make that count."