This subject crops up every single time we play them and it's getting very tedious now. It seems to be those of a younger generation who dismiss the fixture and state it isn't a derby. Anyone who went to Boro V Sunderland at Ayresome will know that this was no 'ordinary' game. Boro fans have never claimed it to be THE North East derby which is clearly them and the Mags.
It seems to send them on a little power trip by putting us down every time the fixture comes round. Small town in Yorkshire etc etc. First song you will hear from them on Sunday will be their full away end singing 'We hate Berra', which makes the whole obsession with it not being a derby even more bizarre.
I knew their record on Teesside was shocking but didn't realise just how bad it was until I read that article. But of course it has nothing to do with us being better than them, it's all about us raising our game when Sunderland come to town
. They are just as deluded as their friends up the road.