Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Tyne-Wear derby between Sunderland and Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light.
It would be fair to say that there is no love lost between these rivals. In the last meeting there was even an altercation between the managers Martin O'Neill and Alan Pardew!
A victory for O'Neill's Black Cats today would see them leapforg the Magpies in the Premier League table.
So where will the bragging rights and the three points be heading? Stay tuned with us to find out.
3.25pmThanks for joining our coverage from the Stadium of Light and keep and eye out for analysis coming shortly. Also, we'll be bringing you live commentary of QPR vs. Everton, which gets underway at 4pm.
3.24pmIt was by no means pretty but Sunderland managed to scramble a point from this encounter. It was a below-par performance from the Black Cats though and you feel O'Neill will not be happy with his players. In contrast, Pardew will be delighted with the way his side played considering they had 10 men for more than a half.
3.23pmFULL TIME: Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle
90+2 minSunderland continue to push forward but Newcastle are currently knocking back their advances. There's one more chance left in this.
90 minFour minutes of stoppage time to be played...
88 minSunderland are now trying to batter down the Newcastle door for a second time. It's set up to be a great finish here on Wearside.
85 minIt seems that Ba has been watching Wayne Rooney yesterday! A deep free kick is flicked on by O'Shea and with the ball heading wide, an unsuspecting Ba diverts the ball past Krul and into his own net.
85 minGOAL! Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle (Ba OG)
84 minBOOKING! Newcastle's Williamson has his name taken for a blatant body check on Saha.
83 minSUBSTITUTION: Johnson's afternoon is over and David Vaughan comes on. Meanwhile, Gabriel Obertan replaces Ben Arfa for Newcastle.
82 minCHANCE! Half the ground thought Sunderland were level there! McClean flicks the ball on for Saha, who can only find the side netting from a narrow angle.
79 minSUBSTITUTION: That bit of cramp has ended Coloccini's afternoon and Taylor comes on. Predictably his pre-match comments have resulted in him being roundly jeered by the home supporters.
76 minWe've got a stoppage in play as Coloccini goes down with cramp. He's been solid for Newcastle and thankfully for them he is now up and running.
74 minCHANCE! Ba almost seals it for Newcastle. His first touch takes him beyond the Sunderland defence but he is always stretching when it comes to his shot and his effort squirms wide of the target.
71 minFinally McClean attacks the full-back and his cross causes problems for Krul. Fortunately for the Dutch keeper he is able to claim the ball at the second attempt.
69 minCHANCE! Larsson is not having much luck from distance today. His latest effort from 25 yards out drags wide of Krul's near post.
67 minSunderland are now the dominant force as Newcastle struggle to get out of their own half. The hosts are not creating too much though.
64 minSUBSTITUTION: The ineffective Sessegnon comes off and is replaced by former Newcastle frontman Louis Saha. Will the Frenchman haunt his former club and make himself a Sunderland hero?
62 minOne player that has been particularly for the hosts is James McClean. Last season his direct style caused no end of problems to defenders but he doesn't seem to want to take on his marker today.
58 minThe home faithful are becoming a little restless with how this match is going at the moment. Too many passes are going astray for their liking.
54 minIt's all gone a bit scrappy, which in truth will probably suit Newcastle. A lot of minor fouls are being committed and as a result the match is not being allowed to flow.
51 minHaving started the half well, Sunderland have struggled to build upon that. In fact it's Newcastle who have had more of the possession despite their numerical disadvantage.
47 minCHANCE! Early attack from the home side ends with Fletcher heading a cross from Larsson well wide of the target.
2.34pmThe players are out and Newcastle will get the second half underway. They've been good value for their lead so far.
2.21pmWhile you wait for the second half to begin, why not give our half-time report from the Stadium of Light a read?
2.20pmWell I wouldn't want to be in the Sunderland dressing room because O'Neill is not going to be a happy man after what he has just seen. His side have been poor and that's being kind! From a Newcastle point of view they've done a good job considering that they are down to ten men.
2.18pmHALF-TIME: Sunderland 0-1 Newcastle
45+2 min...And Krul comes out to claim. Disappointing for the home team, which sums up the half really.
45+1 minCorner coming up for Sunderland. Could be their last chance of the half to draw level...
45 minThree minutes of stoppage time to be played...
41 minCHANCE! Ba passes up a really good opportunity to double Newcastle's lead. After a bit of pinball inside the Sunderland box the ball falls to the striker, whose acrobatic strike flies over the bar.
38 minSUBSTITUTION: Pardew does some re-jigging to his team following Tiote's red card. James Perch comes on as Ameobi is sacrificed. The striker was less than impressed with that decision and headed straight down the tunnel.
37 minPENALTY APPEAL! The Sunderland crowd call for a spot kick as Mike Williamson charges down a shot from Craig Gardner. The ball struck the defender's hip and not his hand though.
35 minCHANCE! Now Sunderland are playing! Craig Gardner drills in a free kick from 30 yards out that goes through a number of players before skidding just past the post.
32 minCHANCE! First real sight of goal for the home side ends with Adam Johnson curling a left footed shot beyond the far post from just inside the area. At last Sunderland mount an attack!
29 minIt's not only the Sunderland players that have been lifted by Tiote's dismissal. The Stadium of Light crowd has come to life, having been subdued for much of the match.
26 minWhat an earth is Cheick Tiote thinking? The Newcastle midfielder enters into a challenge with Fletcher with his studs showing and catches the striker just below the knee. Newcastle protest but referee Martin Atkinson had little choice. Pardew will be fuming with Tiote - his side were in control of this match and now their rivals have been lifted.
24 minRED CARD! Tiote (Newcastle)
21 minSAVE! Cabaye goes for his second of the afternoon with a free kick from 30 yards out. Mignolet is equal to that effort though and tips the ball over for a corner, which comes to nothing.
16 minSAVE! Sebastian Larsson goes for goal but Krul reads the Swedish international's intentions and scampers across to his near post to collect the ball.
15 minChance coming up for Sunderland, who have a free kick 20 yards from goal after Hatem Ben Arfa trips up Rose...
14 minThe hosts are having a lot of the ball in the final third but Newcastle are holding firm at the moment. Fabricio Coloccini makes such a difference to this Newcastle side.
11 minIt appears that Johnson has been identified as Sunderland's danger man by Newcastle. Every time the England winger gets the ball there are two Newcastle players tracking him.
8 minSunderland are now seeing more of the ball and a cross from Adam Johnson is well cleared by Mike Williamson as Fletcher lurked at the back post.
6 minThe hosts look a little stung having fallen behind so early. O'Neill stressed that it was important that his team held firm in the opening exchanges. He'll be tearing his hair out after that!
3 minWakey, wakey Sunderland! Demba Ba drills in a shot from a narrow angle that Simon Mignolet parries out. Yohan Cabaye reacts quickest and slots the ball into the net with an extremely composed finish from 10 yards out. Great start for the Magpies, who have begun really well here.
2 minGOAL! Sunderland 0-1 Newcastle (Cabaye)
1.30pmRight, here we go then in what is sure to be a frantic 90 minutes. Sunderland will get us off and running.
1.27pm...And I was right! The Stadium of Light is drenched in red and white and looking extremely impressive. Handshakes and coin toss to come before the match gets underway.
1.26pmPlayers are in the tunnel. I'm expecting a massive roar as they head onto the pitch...
1.22pmIt will be interesting to see what sort of reception Steven Taylor gets from the home faithful should he come off the bench. The lifelong Newcastle fan and defender has been quoted as saying that no Sunderland player would get in the Newcastle team, while he would rather collect stamps than wear a Sunderland shirt. I doubt he's too popular on Wearside right now!
1.17pmMeanwhile, O'Neill has told Sky Sports News that he had no hesitation in selecting the same starting X1 that was comfortably beaten by Manchester City last time out. He also added that luck will play a key part for the victor this afternoon.
1.13pmFirst up is Newcastle's Alan Pardew, who has been chatting to BBC Newcastle: "It's a springboard to the top eight this game, we're both aware of that. This Sunderland side is stronger than any one I've faced previously, and they look like they're going to be a good team.
"I can say this, with my independent hat on, there are two good north east teams looking for a good season. With my Newcastle hat on I'd like to think it'll be us that finishes above them."
1.12pmWith just under 20 minutes until we are off and running, let's hear what the managers have been saying ahead of this encounter...
1.08pmHe has based his point of view on the fact that both areas are one-team cities, which means one will be completely elated on the final whistle and one will be deflated. Whereas the likes of London, Manchester and Birmingham all have more than one club. Having played in a number of derby matches across the country, Quinn is well-placed to pass judgement.
1.06pmNiall Quinn has some interesting opinions on this derby match. Talking to Sky Sports News, the former Sunderland striker and chairman stated his belief that it is the "biggest" rivalry in the country. Thoughts?
1.04pmIf anyone is going to find the net for Sunderland today you'd have to say that it is likely to be Steven Fletcher. What a signing he has proved to be since joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August. He's notched all five of his new side's goals in the Premier League this season.
1.01pmHave to confess that I'd actually forgot that Djibril Cisse played for Sunderland. Decent celebration from the lad as well.
12.58pmLet's try and cheer all you Mackems up by showing that victory back during the 2008/09 season:
12.55pmAnother statistic that may worry Sunderland supporters is the fact that your side has won just ONCE in their last 15 meetings with the enemy. That's a hard one to imagine but it's true.
12.51pmA quick search of good old Twitter has revealed that Ameobi is known as "The Mackem Slayer". He's found the net seven times against Sunderland. Only Newcastle legend Jackie Milburn has found the net more in this fixture.
12.47pmOne other thing that I failed to mention (sorry Newcastle fans) is the fact that Tim Krul has returned between the posts following an injury layoff. The Dutch international really impressed with the gloves last season and will surely give his team a lift.
12.43pmLooking at those lineups, have to say that both have strong looking midfields on paper. It's really confusing as to why there have been so few goals from that area of the pitch.
12.41pmReports had claimed that Rose may be left out of this match because of his mental state following the alleged racist abuse that he suffered in Serbia. That's not the case though - the Tottenham loanee starts at left-back.
12.40pmSunderland X1: Mignolet; Gardner, Rose, O'Shea, Cuellar; Colback, Larsson, Johnson, McClean; Sessegnon; Fletcher
12.39pmBREAKING TEAM NEWS: Danny Rose starts for Sunderland despite the recent events in Serbia while on international duty with the England Under-21s.
12.37pmThat's an interesting decision from Pardew to give local boy Ameobi the nod over Cisse. Ameobi does have a positive record against Sunderland in recent years though. Other than that the Magpies lineup pretty much as expected.
12.35pmNewcastle X1: Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon; Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez; Ba, Shola Ameobi
12.33pmBREAKING TEAM NEWS: Shola Ameobi starts up front for Newcastle in place of Papiss Cisse.
12.32pmMeanwhile, Demba Ba and Hatem Ben Arfa have found the back of the net for the visiting Magpies. With the likes of Adam Johnson, James McClean and Yohan Cabaye likely to feature today, surely that's got to change?!
12.30pm...All of Sunderland's goals in the top flight have been scored by the recently signed Steven Fletcher. They'll be breathing a huge sigh of relief that he avoided injury while on international duty with Scotland!
12.28pmAlthough we are not aware of the starting lineups yet, there is sure to be plenty of quality on the field. However, there is likely to be only three players that have found the net in the Premier League this season...
12.23pmTalking of Simpson, he was among the Newcastle squad that were treated to a less than friendly welcome at the Stadium of Light earlier today. The Sunderland fans who have got to the ground early booed and jeered every Newcastle squad member who got off the team bus - at least Steven Taylor saw the funny side!
12.20pmNewcastle full-back Danny Simpson: "Just about to leave on the bus with the lads.. Tunes r on.. What a feeling this is, we can't wait.. Come on the toon let's have it."
12.18pmSunderland midfielder Craig Gardner on Twitter: "Pre match done Can't wait for this game 3 hours and counting #hawaythelads."
12.17pmWhile we wait for some team news, let's take a look at what some of the players that are hoping to be involved today have been saying about this fixture...
