What Reaction Will Chopra Get From Toon Army?

Last updated : 07 November 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

Many have switched clubs, such as Shay Given, Lee Clark, Robbie Elliott, Steve Caldwell, Paul Bracewell, Barry Venison in recent years (and that French goalkeeper who only signed for us as a wind-up and never played a first team game).

But Chopra made such a meal of scoring at the Stadium of Light for Newcastle that many Mackems still won't accept him.

But Mackem coach Kevin Ball backs him to score in red and white.

Ball: "Chops has done magnificently since he came to this club.

"He left Newcastle and went to Cardiff, scored goals there and then Roy Keane showed faith in him and brought him to Sunderland.

"As a Newcastle lad who has scored against Sunderland in a derby, for him to cross the water and join us was a brave decision because he knows what the rivalry means to fans in the North-East.

"People will make a lot of it this week, but I think it will go above Chops' head and he won't let it bother him.

"Ultimately, the Newcastle fans will respect the fact that Chops is here to do a job and to do it to the very best of his ability.

"He will handle it no problem this weekend and he could become someone who has scored for and against Newcastle in the derby - because if he gets a chance on Saturday, he'll take it.

"I have to be honest and say that when I left Sunderland, I never ever wanted to play against them and I was delighted that I never did.

"Having spent so long at the club and having had such great times here, to come back and play against them I would have found very difficult emotionally.

"It wouldn't have been too much for me, though - I would still have gone out and done my best - but it would have been tough.

"I've played in several Tyne-Wear derbies and was a manager in one, which was a totally different feeling because you can't influence the game in the same way.

"I stood on the touchline with my stomach going round like a washing machine, but there was no way to physically get that energy out of my system.

"The pressure is mental rather than physical when you're a manager.

"In the last derby, I was in the dugout and this time I will be in a seat in the stadium, but I will still be kicking every ball.

"I'm really looking forward to the game and I think it will be a great occasion.

"Newcastle had a bad result at the weekend and ours wasn't particularly good on Monday night, so both teams will want to put it right on Satuday and there is no better opportunity to do it than in the derby.

"The players should be relishing the chance to do that.

"I know Sam Allardyce and he will have his players fired up and, from Sunderland's point of view, the stage doesn't come any bigger than in a derby game at the Stadium of Light."