Anthony Gordon claims Sunderland “not a very good team” after Newcastle’s derby loss 

A long international break awaits Anthony Gordon and Newcastle after a rough week that saw their Champions League campaign end, and a loss to their arch rivals over the weekend.

Magpies lose second straight derby

Gordon had some comments that won’t go over too well following his teams loss at St. James’ Park. Gordon opened the scoring in the 10 minute, and the Magpies looked in control for the first 45 minutes of the match. Newcastle seemed to take their foot off the gas, something that has become a bit to typical for Eddie Howe’s side, and conceded a 90th minute winner to Brian Brobbey and Sunderland.

After the match, Gordon spoke to the club’s own reporters, and some of his comments are coming under scrutiny after the loss. “The frustrating thing is, in my opinion, they’re not a very good team compared to us. We shouldn’t lose to them. Away is obviously more difficult because they have the fans, the atmosphere and a bit more pressure, but at home we should not lose that game. Not with the first half that we had, but again we haven’t been good enough starting second halves and it’s an ongoing problem.”

This comes just days after he and club legend Alan Shearer exchanged words through the media after the former Newcastle striker questioned if he had sat himself in the first leg of the Champions League against Barcelona. Gordon, who said he usually ignores the chatter, couldn’t ignore Shearer’s words labeling the accusation “complete nonsense.”

Gordon fighting for a World Cup spot

Newcastle played Barcelona tough for 135 of the 190 minutes. After a draw at St. James’ Park, they were level at 2-2 heading into stoppage time at the Camp Nou. A penalty conceded right before the break gave the blaugrana all the momentum and they ran away with the tie in the second half of the second leg, downing Newcastle 7-2 with four goals in the second half.

That was followed by a second consecutive loss to Sunderland in the derby, in yet another match that the Magpies squandered a lead. Newcastle has dropped 22 points this season after leading their opposition, and Gordon was quick to identify the problem. “It was not good enough really, no excuses. We were good for 45 minutes, which has been the case too often this season — we actually knew going into the game and had been trying to work on it. It was a not good enough start to the second half and they were the better team second half.”

Newcastle are now 12th in the table and are seven points behind Liverpool in fifth. Gordon will put the derby loss in the back of his mind and turn his attention to helping England get ready for the World Cup as he looks to secure a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s final squad this summer.

Related stories

Premier League

Salah says goodbye: “This club will always be my home”

Premier League

Salah's Anfield legacy will last a lifetime

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.