Middlesbrough fans are unlikely to be happy with recent comments made by Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris.
Boro and Sunderland will meet at the Stadium of Light in a 12:30pm kick-off on Saturday, September 21st, in a Championship clash.
Middlesbrough head into the game looking to continue their superb run of form against their local rivals.
Michael Carrick watched his side smash the Black Cats 4-0 in this fixture last season, while the Teessiders have only lost one meeting against Sunderland in all competitions since 2012.
There is much excitement heading into the game, with both managers conducting their pre-match press conference on Thursday.
Carrick provided an injury update on Rav van den Berg during his pre-match media duties on September 19th.
The Dutchman has been out since the 1-0 defeat to Derby County and is slowly stepping up his return to the pitch.
Regis Le Bris’ comments ahead of the game, meanwhile, are likely to catch the ire of the Middlesbrough faithful.
Middlesbrough fans will not agree with Regis Le Bris
The Tees-Wear derby has been contested since the first meeting between Sunderland and Middlesbrough on November 26th, 1887.
It is the oldest competitive football derby fixture in the North East, beginning before Boro versus Newcastle or Sunderland versus the Magpies.
However, while it is considered a derby by most Middlesbrough fans, the Sunderland faithful will tell you it is not one, probably because they never win it.
Le Bris only arrived in England this summer and is unlikely to have had any prior knowledge of the fixture.
But in his pre-match press conference on Thursday, the Sunderland boss shared his thoughts on the derby and was keen to suggest that the game is not that important, with the focus instead on Newcastle.
He said: “The most important derby to my knowledge is Newcastle. Middlesbrough is an interesting fixture but I am not sure if it is a specific derby.”
Middlesbrough fans will no doubt disagree with the Frenchman’s comments and the travelling supporters will be in full voice for the first Tees-Wear derby of the season.
Why Sunderland are the perfect opponents for Middlesbrough
Boro have not had the most prolific start to the season, with eight points accumulated from a possible 15 leaving them 10th in the Championship table.
Sunderland, on the other hand, have earned 13 points from their opening five Championship fixtures.
On paper, this suggests the Black Cats are clear favourites going into the match on Saturday.
However, Carrick’s men are at their best when they are able to hit teams on the counterattack.
Middlesbrough have had very few opportunities to do that so far this term, with most of their opponents sitting in a low block.
But the Teessiders dominated Leeds United in the Carabao Cup when they tried to take the game to Boro are a similar outcome is highly likely on Saturday as Sunderland are also expected to try and play on the front foot.
Should they indeed do so, a Middlesbrough victory is very likely to be on the cards.