Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden has questioned the loyalty of Sunderland fans as the two rivals prepare to swap leagues ahead of next season.
The Magpies won promotion from the Championship as winners under manager Rafa Benitez this term, whilst their neighbours have been relegated from the Premier League and are guaranteed to finish bottom of the top tier.
Hayden, who joined Newcastle last summer on a five-year deal from Arsenal, said that he doubted whether the Black Cats’ fans will turn out to see them in England’s second division.
“We have an average attendance of 51,000 for a second division team. I don’t believe anybody who gets relegated would get that,” the 22-year-old said in an interview with The Times.
“Look at Sunderland — would they have that loyalty? Even in the Premier League, when you watched [them at the Stadium of Light] there were red seats everywhere.
“I don’t think they will get 40,000 in the Championship when they don’t fill the stadium in the Premier League.”
Hayden’s comments are likely to anger Sunderland fans, who have endured a poor season in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Newcastle have achieved promotion at the first time of asking after their relegation in 2015-16 and will now hope to build a team capable of challenging in the top flight.
Hayden made 33 Championship appearances throughout the course of this campaign and will hope to once again be an integral part of Benitez’s team when the new season kicks off in August.
IPSWICH 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Murphy)
Darlow, Dummett, Hanley, Lascelles, Yedlin (Gamez 78), Ritchie (Mitrovic 82), Shelvey, Hayden (Gouffran 61), Diame, Atsu, Murphy
Subs not used: Colback, Perez, Mbemba, Elliot
NEWCASTLE 1 LEEDS 1 (Lascelles)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Mbemba, Dummett, Ritchie (Yedlin 84), Shelvey, Hayden (Colback 79), Gouffran, Perez (Diame 90), Mitrovic
Unused Subs:Elliot, Hanley, Murphy, Atsu
SHEFFIELD WED 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Shelvey)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Mbemba, Dummett, Ritchie (Mitrovic 78'), Shelvey, Diamé (Atsu 72'), Gouffran, Pérez, Gayle (Murphy 29')
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Gámez, Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 1 BURTON 0 (Ritchie)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Mbemba, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Diame, Atsu (Ameobi 89), Perez, Gayle (Murphy 90+1)
Subs not used: Hanley, Haidara, Gouffran, Elliot, Jesus Gamez
NEWCASTLE 2 WIGAN 1 (Gale, Ritchie)
Darlow; Anita, Lascelles, Hanley, Dummett, Atsu, Colback, Shelvey, Ritchie, Gouffran (Hayden, 69), Diamé (Atsu, 62), Gayle (Perez, 79).
Subs not used: Elliot, Mbemba, Gámez, Mitrovic.
BIRMINGHAM 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Hanley, Dummett, Ritchie, Diame, Colback, Gouffran (Atsu 82), Perez (Shelvey 78), Murphy (Gayle 63)
Unused Subs: Elliot, Gamez, Mbemba, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE 0 FULHAM 3
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark (Gámezat 64'), Dummett, Atu, Colback, Shelvey, Ritchie (Murphyat 61'), Gayle (Gouffran 74'), Diame.
Subs not used: Hanley, Pérez, Elliot, Mitrovic
READING 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Darlow, Gamez, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Colback (Diame 88), Shelvey, Gouffran (Atsu 69), Perez, Murphy (Gayle 75)
Unused Subs:Elliot, Hanley, Mbemba, Anita
HUDDERSFIELD 1 NEWCASTLE 3 (Ritchie pen, Murphy, Gayle)
Darlow; Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Ritchie, Shelvey, Colback (Gouffran 72), Atsu (Yedlin 81); Diame; Murphy (Gayle 66)
Subs not used: Hanley, Perez, Elliot, Gamez
BRIGHTON 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Diame, Perez)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Colback (Murphy 74), Shelvey, Atsu, Diame, Gouffran (Perez 82)
Unused Subs: Elliot, Hanley, Gamez, Anita, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE 2 BRISTOL CITY 2 (Smith (og), Clark)
Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Shelvey, Colback (Diaméat 58), Ritchie, Pérez( Gouffran 79) Atsu, Mitrovic
Subs not used: Elliot, Hanley, Gamez, Anita, Murphy
NEWCASTLE 2 ASTON VILLA 0 (Gouffran, Lansbury (og))
Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Colback, Shelvey; Ritchie, Diame, Gouffran; Gayle (Mitrovic 33).
Subs not used: Elliot, Hanley, Lazaar, Perez, Gamez.
NORWICH 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Perez, Lascelles)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (70' Atsu), Shelvey, Colback (54' Diame), Gouffran, Perez, Mitrovic (76' Gayle)
Subs: Hanley, Hayden, Elliot, Gamez
WOLVES 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Mitrovic)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (82' Murphy), Colback, Shelvey, Gouffran, Diame (88' Perez), Mitrovic (45' Atsu)
Subs: Hanley, Hayden, Elliot, Gamez
NEWCASTLE 1 DERBY CO 0 (Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Hanley, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden (49' Perez), Gouffran (90+3' Lascelles), Diame, Mitrovic (84' Ameobi)
Subs: Lazaar, Elliot, Gamez, Murphy
NEWCASTLE 2 QPR 2 (Shelvey, Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Gouffran, Perez (86' Diame), Murphy (66' Ameobi)
Subs: Hanley, Lazaar, Gamez, Mitrovic, Sels
FAC OXFORD UTD 3 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Sels, Gamez, Hanley, Lazaar, Haidara (77' Ritchie), Hayden, Barlaser, El-Mhanni (68' Gouffran), Perez, Mitrovic
Subs: Dummett, Lascelles,Shelvey, Elliot, Yedlin
NEWCASTLE 4 ROTHERHAM 0 (Murphy, Ritchie 2 (1 pen), Perez)
Darlow, Yedlin (80' Sterry), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran (64' Ameobi), Perez, Murphy (75' Lazaar)
Subs: Barlaser, Hanley, Haidara, Sels
FAC NEWCASTLE UTD 3 BIRMINGHAM 1 (Ritchie 2 (1 pen), Gouffran)
Sels, Yedlin (75' Hayden), Hanley, Findlay, Lazaar, Shelvey, Tiote (82' Colback), Ritchie, Ben El-Mhanni (70' Perez), Barlaser, Gouffran
Subs: Dummett, Lascelles, Elliot, Murphy
BRENTFORD 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle, Murphy)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden (62' Anita - 72' Hanley), Colback, Gouffran, Perez, Gayle (28' Murphy)
Subs: Lazaar, Sels, Sterry, Ameobi
FA CUP BIRMINGHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Murphy)
Sels, Yedlin, Lascelles, Hanley, Haidara (69' Ritchie), Anita, Colback, Tiote (65' Hayden), Lazaar, Murphy, Mitrovic (10' Gouffran)
Subs: Clark, Dummett, Gayle, Darlow
BLACKBURN 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Darlow, Anita (87' Murphy), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Colback (77' Perez), Gouffran (85' Atsu), Diame, Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels
NEWCASTLE 3 NOTTM FOREST 1 (Ritchie, Gayle 2)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (83' Lazaar), Colback (67' Diame), Hayden, Atsu, Perez, Gayle (88' Mitrovic)
Subs: Anita, Mbemba, Gouffran, Sels
NEWCASTLE 0 SHEFF WED 1
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Colback (80' Mitrovic), Gouffran (62' Atsu), Diame (69' Perez), Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels
BURTON 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle, Diame)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu, Shelvey, Hayden, Ritchie (85' Gouffran), Diame, Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Anita, Perez, Mbemba, Sels, Mitrovic
WIGAN 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Diame, Atsu)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (69' Atsu), Shelvey, Hayden, Gouffran, Diame, Gayle (82' Perez)
Subs: Lazaar, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE 4 BIRMINGHAM 0 (Gayle 3, Gouffran)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden (82' Lazaar), Gouffran (70' Atsu), Diame, Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Mbemba, Yedlin, Tiote, Sels
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie, Perez (45' Anita), Gouffran (77' Diame), Gayle (87' Mitrovic)
Subs: Mbemba, Tiote, Sels, Atsu
LC HULL CITY 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 (Diame) * Lost on pens
Sels, Anita (108 Yedlin), Lascelles, Clark, Lazaar, Ritchie (80 Atsu), Shelvey, Hayden (105 Murphy), Gouffran, Diame, Gayle
Subs: Dummett, Mbemba, Tiote, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 0 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1
Darlow, Yedlin, Mbemba (85' Gayle), Clark, Gamez (55' Dummett), Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Atsu, Perez, Mitrovic
Subs: Lascelles, Anita, Diame, Gouffran, Sels
LEEDS UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle 2)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Colback (83' Hayden), Shelvey, Gouffran (76' Diame), Perez, Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels, Atsu
NEWCASTLE 2 CARDIFF 1 (Atsu, Gouffran)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu (89' Diame), Shelvey, Hayden, Gouffran (72' Anita), Perez, Mitrovic
Subs: Colback, Hanley, Lazaar, Gayle, Sels
PRESTON 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Mitrovic 2)
Darlow, Yedlin (90+5' Hanley), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (90+2' Atsu), Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran, Diame, Mitrovic (86' Perez)
Subs: Lazaar, Anita, Gamez, Sels
LC NEWCASTLE 6 PRESTON 0 (Mitrovic 2, Diame 2, Ritchie (pen), Perez)
Sels, Yedlin, Mbemba, Hanley, Dummett (58' Anita), Ritchie (75' Perez), Hayden, Colback (32' Shelvey), Atsu, Diame, Mitrovic
Subs: Clark, Gayle, Gouffran, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 3 IPSWICH TOWN 0 (Perez 2, Ritchie)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Colback, Shelvey (83' Hayden), Gouffran (75' Atsu), Perez, Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Anita, Diame, Mbemba, Sels
BARNSLEY 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gayle 2)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Shelvey, Hayden, Ritchie (83' Atsu), Diame (90+2' Colback), Gouffran, Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Perez, Yedlin, Sels, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE 3 BRENTFORD 1 (Clark, Gayle 2)
Darlow; Anita, Lascelles (Hanley 60), Clark, Dummett; Shelvey, Colback; Atsu (Yedlin 72), Perez, Gouffran (Lazaar 84); Gayle.
Subs: Sels, Hayden, Diame, Mitrovic.
ROTHERHAM 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Atsu)
Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Atsu (67' Ritchie), Shelvey, Colback, Gouffran, Diame (87' Hanley), Gayle (79' Mitrovic)
Subs: Hayden, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels
NEWCASTLE 4 NORWICH 3 (Gayle 3, Gouffran)
Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett (92 Atsu), Ritchie, Shelvey, Colback (71' Hayden), Gouffran, Diame (71' Mitrovic), Gayle
Subs: Lazaar, Perez, Mbemba, Sels
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Elphick og)
Sels, Yedlin (75' Tiote), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran, Diame, Gayle (80' Mitrovic)
Subs: Hanley, Lazaar, Perez, Darlow, Atsu
LC NEWCASTLE 2 WOLVES 0 (Ritchie, Gouffran)
Darlow, Yedlin, Hanley, Clark, Lazaar, Shelvey, Colback, Ritchie (86' Lascelles), Diame (72' Perez), Gouffran (75' Atsu), Murphy
Subs: Dummett, Hayden, Woodman, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 WOLVES 2
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Hayden (Mitrovic 62) Shelvey, Ritchie (Atsu 63), Diame, Perez, Gayle
Subs not used: Clark, Colback, Gouffran, Yedlin, Darlow
QPR 0 NEWCASTLE 6 (Shelvey 2, Perez, Clark, Mitrovic, Hanley)
Sels, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett (65' Hanley), Gouffran (61' Atsu), Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie, Perez, Mitrovic (74' Yedlin)
Subs: Colback, Gayle, Diame, Darlow
DERBY CO 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Gouffran, Yedlin)
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Colback, Gouffran (73' Yedlin), Diame (88' Hayden), Gayle (76' Perez)
Subs: Clark, Lazaar, Darlow, Mitrovic
NEWCASTLE 2 BRIGHTON 0 (Lascelles, Shelvey)
Sels, Anita (72' Gamez), Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Gouffran (88' Yedlin), Diame (81' Colback), Perez
Subs: Clark, Hanley, Darlow, Armstrong
(LC) NEWCASTLE 2 CHELTENHAM 0 (Perez 2)
Darlow, Sterry, Lascelles, Hanley, Gamez, Aarons (24' Gouffran), Shelvey, Colback, Perez, Diame, Mitrovic (38' Gayle)
Subs: Dummett, Hayden, Mbemba, Sels
BRISTOL CITY 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gayle)
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Clark, Ritchie, Hayden (87' Shelvey), Colback, Gouffran, Diame (63' Perez), Gayle (88' Aarons)
Subs: Dummett, Hanley, Darlow, Sterry
NEWCASTLE 4 READING 1 (Hayden, Ritchie (P), Gayle 2)
Sels, Anita, Mbemba, Clark, Dummett, Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie (90' Aarons), Perez (76' Lascelles), Gouffran (84' Colback), Gayle
Subs: Hanley, Janmaat, Darlow, Armstrong
NEWCASTLE 1 HUDDERSFIELD 2 (Gayle)
Sels, Janmaat (83' Armstrong), Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Anita, Hayden, Shelvey, Aarons (45' Ritchie), Diame (75' Perez), Gayle
Subs: Clark, Colback, Darlow, Gamez
FULHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Sels; Janmaat, Lascelles, Hanley, Dummett; Hayden (Shelvey 77), Colback (Aarons 61); Ritchie, Perez (Armstrong 70), Anita; Gayle.
Subs Mbemba, Darlow, Jesus Gamez, Sterry.
NEWCASTLE 3 VITESSE ARNHEM 2 (Leerdam (og), Gayle, Colback)
Sels; Janmaat (Sterry, 74), Hanley (Gamez, 62), Lascelles, Dummett; Hayden (Saivet, 74), Colback (Shelvey, 62); Anita (Mitrovic, 74), Perez (Armstrong, 62), Ritchie (Aarons, 62); Gayle (Gouffran, 74). Subs not: Darlow, Tiote, Thauvin.
SOUTHEND UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Anita, Gouffran)
Darlow; Janmaat (Sterry 63), Mbemba (Hanley 63), Lascelles, Dummett; Hayden (Colback 63), Shelvey (Saivet 73); Anita (Thauvin 78), Perez (Mitrovic 73), Aarons (Gouffran 63); Gayle (Armstrong 63).
Sub not used: Sels.
SPORTING LOKEREN 0 NEWCASTLE 4 (Perez 2, Perez, Janmaat, Shelvey)
Sels (Darlow 72); Sterry (Gouffran 63), Mbemba (Saivet 72), Lascelles (Dummett 63), Anita (Gamez 46); Hayden (Shelvey 46), Colback (Tiote 72); Janmaat, Perez (Mitrovic 46), Aarons (Thauvin 63), Gayle (Armstrong 63).
Subs not used: None.
DONCASTER ROVERS 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 2 (Hayden, Perez)
Sels, Janmaat (Sterry, 45), Mbemba (Saivet, 65), Lascelles (Dummett, 45), Colback (Hayden, 45), Anita (Gamez, 45), Ritchie (Gouffran, 45), Aarons (Perez, 45), Shelvey (Wijnaldum, 79), Mitrovic (Gayle, 45), Armstrong (Thauvin, 60).
BOHEMIANS 0 NEWCASTLE 6 (Ritchie, Mitrovic, Gayle, Thauvin, Aarons, Wijnaldum)
Sels, Anita, Lascelles, Mbemba, Sterry, Aarons, Colback, Gouffran, Ritchie, Saivet, Mitrovic.
Subs: Darlow, Gamez, Dummett, Wijnaldum, Shelvey, Hayden, Perez, Gayle, Janmaat, Tiote, Thauvin.