- Newcastle finished fourth in the Premier League last season
- Magpies face Sunderland in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday
- Mail Sport's chief football reporter Sami Mokbel gives the latest on Ivan Toney, Conor Gallagher and more It all starts
Michael Beale suspects Eddie Howe may have achieved too much too quickly at Newcastle but insists there is pressure on both managers ahead of this weekend's Wear-Tyne derby.
Howe has lost seven of his last eight and while there is patience given the work he has put in at St James' Park, defeat at the Stadium of Light in the FA Cup third round would be unpalatable for many supporters.
New Sunderland boss Beale has sought to defend Howe and dismissed the idea, put forward by fans of his Championship club, that all the pressure will be on his counterpart in Saturday afternoon's kick-off.
“Eddie is everything that is good about British coaching,” said the former Rangers head coach. 'He's done well so far. Sometimes you can overachieve a little early.
'Only he will know the pressure he is under. But it's a derby, so I'm sure we'll both get a blow if we lose!
Michael Beale believes Eddie Howe is ahead of schedule at Newcastle
Beale and his Sunderland side host Newcastle in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday
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'The two clubs are in completely different places than when the last derby was played (in 2016). We've been all the way to League One and are now the youngest team in the Championship, possibly in the country.
'They will be favourites, but I don't think I will get a free hit and I don't look at it that way. I consider it a great opportunity for my young players to show their potential to play at that level.
“We are trying to mature and grow and they have big ambitions to play in the Premier League and Champions League.
'They are playing against a group that has done that this year, what an opportunity. It's a great game to be involved in.'
Beating Paris Saint-Germain in October was the highlight of Newcastle's season so far
The Magpies have lost seven of their last eight games in all competitions
Howe is under pressure for the first time since taking over Newcastle
Beale watched Newcastle's 4-2 defeat at Liverpool on New Year's Day and noted the ease with which some of the home side's goals were scored.
“You get caught up in things and you look at Liverpool the other day and you think, 'We could do something about that,'” he said. “And then forget that you don't have Mo Salah!”
This will be only Beale's fifth game in charge of the Black Cats, but fans have left him questioning the magnitude.
“I arrived at the club after the draw had taken place, but you can feel the anticipation building,” he said. 'We will really feel it in the city in the coming days.
'It's the first derby in seven years – far too long – and it's the beauty of the FA Cup that has brought them together.
'It's a match that excites everyone in the North East, but the whole country is looking forward to it. It's the draw of the round. We're the lucky ones involved in this.'