Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn and top-scorer Darren Bent this week apologised to Black Cats fans for their side’s 5-1 humiliation in Sunday’s Tyne/Wear derby against Newcastle at St James’s Park.

Sunderland came into the game in reasonable form. But they were outplayed and suffered further humiliation when centre-back Titus Bramble – a former Newcastle player – was sent-off in the second half with the score at 3-0.

It was their worst derby defeat in over half-a-century and manager Steve Bruce said afterwards that his “naïve” side had their “backsides kicked.”

 

Quinn said: “It is entirely appropriate that we apologise to our fans. We may have to spend a long time apologising but this entire club knows that it owes people right now and, for me, that is the priority.”

Bent echoed his chairman’s sentiments, saying: “It’s important that someone came out and apologised to the fans. We let a lot of people down.”

Sunderland are now 12^th in the EPL, three points above the drop zone and two points ahead of Stoke, who visit the Stadium of Light for a league fixture this Saturday.

The club have offered 25-year-old Scottish international defender Phil Bardsley an extension to his contract, which runs out next summer.

Bruce believes a deal is “close” and commented: “He should commit to the club in the next few weeks.”

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland striker David Healy, who has yet to appear in the first team this season, has been loaned to npower Championship side Doncaster Rovers for a month.