“We Were a Mess” – Bruno Guimarães Lashes Newcastle After Derby Loss
Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães did not hide his anger after the Magpies fell to a damaging Tyne-Wear derby defeat, calling the performance a “mess” and admitting it was one of the hardest results he has had to swallow in a black and white shirt.
A 1-0 loss to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, decided by Nick Woltemade’s freak own goal, ended Newcastle’s first league derby meeting with their rivals since 2016 in painful fashion. Beyond the scoreline, it was the manner of the defeat that cut deepest for the skipper.
A derby defeat that stings deeper
Guimarães spoke shortly after the final whistle, clearly emotional as he assessed a display that left Newcastle second best in intensity, creativity and fight. “It’s a tough one to accept for me,” he said. “I’m very frustrated. One of those weeks we were very excited at the training ground, but we came here and didn’t perform the way we can.”
Defeat on Wearside leaves Newcastle sitting 12th in the Premier League, a worrying position for a side that entered the season with ambitions of pushing back into the European conversation. The Brazilian midfielder made it clear that league position only adds to the frustration.
“So frustrated and it makes me feel angry about our performance today,” he added. “We were not there. No shooting the ball, no crossing the ball, no passing. We should have demanded the ball more.”
Why this result matters now
This was not just another away defeat. It was a derby, played in hostile territory, against a Sunderland side determined to disrupt and fight for every second ball. Newcastle knew exactly what was coming, yet failed to respond.
“I think we just accepted the way they will play—long balls, winning the duels,” Guimarães explained. “In derbies we have to win the duels.”
That admission is particularly damning. Derby matches are often decided less by tactical complexity and more by aggression, energy and composure under pressure. Newcastle showed too little of all three.
For fans, the result reopens old wounds. For the players, it raises uncomfortable questions about mentality when the stakes are highest.
A chaotic turning point
The first half offered few clear chances, with both sides struggling to impose any rhythm. Then came the decisive moment. Woltemade’s attempted defensive header looped back over his own goalkeeper and in off the underside of the crossbar, handing Sunderland a lead they were more than happy to protect.
Newcastle pushed after the hour mark, but the response lacked conviction. Guimarães had the visitors’ best opportunities, forcing two saves from Robin Roefs, yet sustained pressure never truly materialized.
Despite controlling possession for spells, Newcastle rarely looked like a team capable of breaking down a defense defending a narrow lead. Crosses were scarce. Final passes went astray. The tempo never rose.
Pain beyond the result
When asked if this was the most painful defeat of his Newcastle career, Guimarães did not hesitate. “Definitely, yes,” he said. “It’s not just as a defeat, but more the way we play.”
That distinction matters. Players can accept losing a tight contest. What is harder to accept is underperforming in effort and identity, especially in a derby.
“Disappointed, frustrated, lack of energy and no one put the things that we are able to do,” he continued. “Cross the ball, pass the ball, we’re like a mess in my point of view.”
He also acknowledged the reaction from supporters, many of whom made their feelings clear at full time. “The fans are right to criticize because it’s a tough one to accept.”
What happens next?
Newcastle now face a critical stretch of fixtures that will define whether this season stabilizes or drifts. Eddie Howe and his staff must quickly address the issues Guimarães laid bare: intensity in duels, bravery in possession and leadership when momentum turns.
For the captain, this defeat will linger. “We had a great opportunity to go in front of them and we just missed it,” he said. “For me it’s so frustrating.”
Derby losses always hurt. But when your captain calls the performance a mess, it suggests deeper concerns. The question now is whether Newcastle responds with the urgency this result demands or allows one painful afternoon on Wearside to shape the weeks ahead.