Sunderland are not getting the respect they deserve for their strong performances in the Premier League, so says Granit Xhaka.

The Black Cats ran out 1-0 winners over fierce rivals Newcastle United on Sunday, with Nick Woltemade's own goal sealing a 1-0 win for Regis Le Bris' team at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland moved up to seventh in the standings, just two points off the top four, while their tally of 26 points is their most at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 2000-01 (also 26), when they went on to finish seventh.

Xhaka has been a driving force for Sunderland since his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, and he feels they deserve to be held in higher regard.

"Derbies, you have to win, it does not matter how," Sunderland's captain told Sky Sports.

"This team deserves much more and more respect as where we are in the league is amazing and we're working really hard.

"In the first half we had much more control with the ball but it's normal you don't do it for 90 minutes.

"After the goal the game changed a bit, but we were very good without the ball and we deserved the three points for sure."

It was a derby clash devoid of attacking quality, with both sides combining for only 11 attempts and 0.54 expected goals (0.29 xG for Sunderland, 0.25 xG for Newcastle).

Indeed, it is the fewest shots in a single game in the competition since March 2023. 

Sunderland will care little, though. They are unbeaten in their last 10 league games against Newcastle (W7 D3).

Le Bris told Sky Sports: "Proud and happy. It was a derby and we were expected [to win] by our fans. This win is well deserved, we were mature and the lads were incredible.

"During the first half tactically it was really good, just small details about the shape, then it was a question of being more clinical in the final third. We had good control and sometimes were more patient.

"It was a good level of maturity, so happy for the lads and it is good for our fans.

"It's good for the region, the club, the fans. We knew before it was a special game but we have to reset quickly as we have another tough challenge in Brighton in one week so let's go again."