Sunderland officials attempted to make their players feel at 'home' ahead of Sunday's derby defeat at Newcastle United.

The Evening Chronicle says when officials opened up on Sunday morning and went into the visiting dressing room, they found that all the United plaques had been covered by the red-and-white of Sunderland.

And a United insider said: "Perhaps Sunderland wanted to feel at home, but I don't know why. They have not beaten us down at their place since 1980."