Sunderland fan site Roker Report has taken to Twitter to post a cheeky jibe at Newcastle United following news of Rafa Benitez’s departure from the club.
The Magpies confirmed via Twitter on Monday that the Spaniard will not renew his current deal on Tyneside, and will leave St. James’ Park this week.
Responding to the news, popular Mackem fan site Roker Rapport wrote on Twitter: “Lock up your horses.”
Lock up your horses.
— Roker Report (@RokerReport) June 24, 2019
The jibe refers to an incident in the aftermath of a Tyne Wear Derby back in 2013 in which a Newcastle fan infamously punched a horse in the face.
OPINION
The last thing Newcastle United fans need right now is for their local rivals to start rubbing salt into the sore wounds opened up by Benitez’s departure. It’s only natural that Sunderland supporters will take great delight from Rafa leaving the north east, and there are certainly two ways to look at the banter that will no doubt already be flying. On the one hand, the Mackems are still down in League One, and after the dreadful run of fortune that they have had recently, you have to ask yourself if they have the right to laugh at anybody. On the other hand, there was plenty said in Newcastle when the Black Cats suffered successive relegations, and if you can’t take it then you certainly shouldn’t be dishing it out. At the end of the day, a bit of good natured mockery is part and parcel of being a football fan, and the Magpies will just be hoping that they still have the upper hand when it comes to their divisional status this time next season.
