Revealed! The most fiercely contested derbies in English football - and where Newcastle United vs Sunderland ranks

You have to go back to March 2016 for the last time that the two north east clubs met at senior level, with that game ending in a 1-1 draw.

Since then, the Black Cats have dropped down the divisions while the Magpies have fought back from a relegation of their own to reestablish themselves as a Premier League outfit.

Prior to that sharing of the spoils at St. James’ Park, the Toon Army had six consecutive derbies against their bitter local rivals.

In fact, you have to go back to August 2011 for the last time that the Tynesiders beat the Mackems, with Ryan Taylor scoring the crucial goal in a narrow 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light.

But this is a rivalry that stretches back way beyond the Premier League era.

The first official meeting between Newcastle and Sunderland came on Christmas Eve 1898, with the Magpies sneaking a 3-2 win.

In the years since, the sides have met on 155 other occasions, but who has had the better of the clashes, and how does it rank in terms of ferocity compared to some of the biggest rivalries in English football?

Paddy Power have ran the numbers, comparing win percentages from derby clashes between every Premier League club and their most fierce foes to determine which clashes truly are the most competitive.

Click and scroll through the pages below to read our countdown...