10:58AM, Sun Oct 21, 2012

Newcastle United Defender Davide Santon On Facing Sunderland

Davide Santon: North East derby scary for the Italian

Newcastle defender Davide Santon is looking forward to Sunday afternoon's showdown with Sunderland even though he admits he was "scared" by his first taste of the rivalry.

Sky Bet

£10 Free Bet
- Sky Bet are offering all new customers a £10 Free Bet Claim your free bet now

The former Inter Milan full-back experienced the hostile North East derby atmosphere when he played for the Magpies in their 1-1 draw with Sunderland at St James' Park last season.

Santon said in the Sunday Mirror: "I didn't play in the first game last season when Newcastle won 1-0, but I played in the second one.

"It was a fantastic experience. The fans were crazy and I really enjoyed the game. I remember the managers being crazy, too, and Sunderland having two players sent off.

"But I think it's normal, because the Milan derby was similar. The difference is that here the stadium is a bit smaller, but the fans are more aggressive than in Milan.

"Here, the rivalry is more intense, more crazy. I was even a little bit scared in the first half, but I really enjoyed it."

Related tags: Sport

Related tags: Football

Sky Sources: Andy Carroll To Undergo West Ham Medical

Related tags: Newcastle

Barclays Premier League

Pos	Team	P	Pts
10	Manchester City	0	0
11	Manchester United	0	0
12	Newcastle United	0	0
13	Norwich City	0	0
14	Southampton	0	0

Fixtures & Results

July

Friendly Match - Mon 16
FT	Monaco	-	Newcastle
Friendly Match - Sat 21
FT	Fenerbahce	-	Newcastle
Friendly Match - Fri 27
AET	Olympiakos	-	Newcastle
Friendly Match - Sat 28
FT	Braga	-	Newcastle

May

Barclays Premier League - Sat 4
FT	West Ham	0-0	Newcastle
Barclays Premier League - Sun 12
FT	QPR	1-2	Newcastle
Barclays Premier League - Sun 19
FT	Newcastle	0-1	Arsenal