Sunderland and Newcastle United supporters have been warned to expect travel restrictions on the day of the Tyne-Wear derby on Sunday afternoon.
The Black Cats and the Magpies are scheduled to clash at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League for the first time in nearly a decade.
Regis Le Bris's troops have made a sensational start to their return to the top table of English football, defying pre-season expectations of a relegation battle.
The North-East giants are currently occupying ninth spot in the Premier League standings, just three points behind the top four.
As for Eddie Howe's men, Newcastle are ripping it up in the Champions League but sit just 12th on the domestic scene, a point behind Sunderland.
Travel restrictions for supporters revealed ahead of derby
With the aim of keeping supporters of the rival clubs away from each other over the course of Sunday, the area's Metro service will be operating differently.
Between 10am and kick-off at 2pm, Tyne and Wear Metro trains travelling southbound towards the match will be instructed not to stop at Stadium of Light station, whereas Metro trains travelling northbound from South Hylton will not halt at St. Peter's station.
At the conclusion of the game, Sunderland fans will be released first and those wanting to use the Metro will be escorted to the Stadium of Light station. Then, Newcastle fans will be sent towards St. Peter's.
Fans travelling on the southbound Metro before the match have been asked to use St Peter's or trains heading towards Newcastle.
Change of approach from 2024
At the beginning of December 2023, Sunderland and Newcastle United were drawn against each other in the third round of the 2023-24 FA Cup.
The first meeting between the fierce rivals in early eight years, there was plenty of concerns surrounding the potential of trouble at the match.
The contest was policed in a “bubble”, meaning that Newcastle supporters were directly transported to the Stadium of Light.
This will not be the case on Sunday afternoon, however there are still restrictions in place on travel for both Sunderland and Newcastle fans.
A brilliant brace from Alexander Isak and a Dan Ballard own goal led to a 3-0 Magpies victory the last time they visited the Stadium of Light.
FGG says: Sensible but not excessive
Given the hatred between both sides, it is understandable that extra measures are in place to prevent fan trouble on Sunday afternoon.
However, the majority of supporters will be in the business of simply enjoying the football, and they should be entitled to travel as they wish to the Stadium of Light.