Beale: Only difference between us and them is Saudi cash

Defiant boss dismisses underdog tag

MICHAEL BEALE believes Sunderland are as massive a club as Newcastle - apart from Saudi cash available to the Tynesiders.

The Black Cats boss has ordered his players to "make it uncomfortable" for Toon in the FA Cup at the Stadium of Light and refused to concede his side are underdogs today.

But the financial gap between the two is huge, with Newcastle's turnover 10 times that of the red-and-white rivals 12 miles up the road.

Sunderland's squad cost £ 10 million and spent four years in League One before reaching the Championship play-offs last term.

United have spent £375m under Saudi ownership, their highest earners banking the same in a year as the entire Mackems squad. But the former Rangers manager said:

"Massive underdogs? Never in a derby and certainly when you look at the past the way the results have gone and it is 11 versus 11.

"There is no difference in terms of status, support, size and pool of the club. That is very similar, that is on a par with each other.