13.21 – With just 15 minutes to go until kick off, we have the team news:

Sunderland: Mignolet; Gardner, Rose, O’Shea (C), Cuellar; Colback, Larsson, Johnson, McClean; Sessegnon, Fletcher. Subs: Bardsley, Campbell, Kilgallon, Vaughan, Meyler, Saha, Westwood.

Newcastle: Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini (C), Santon; Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez; Ba, Shola Ameobi.  Subs: Harper, Steven Taylor, Ferguson, Perch, Anita, Obertan, Cisse.

The good news for the home side is that Irish international James McClean has shaken off a groin injury and lines up from the start of today’s game.

13.25 – My favourite statistic heading into today’s game is that, in the combined 13 games these two teams have played this season, just three players – Fletcher, Ba and Ben Arfa – have hit the net.

Sunderland are slight favourites with the bookies, but I’d love to know how you think the game will go.

Feel free to share your predictions in the comments below.

13.32 – And the game kicks off with Sunderland playing from left to right and Newcastle in the glow-in-the-dark jerseys.

Newcastle win the games first corner after less than a minute but fail to make anything from the set-piece

13.47 – Steven Fletcher has a half chance for Sunderland after Danny Rose sends a good cross in his direction.

However, Newcastle captain Coloccini is first to the ball and deals with the threat comfortably.

Rose is involved again just seconds later, winning a free kick off Ben Arfa which Seb Larsson took from the left-hand side of the Newcastle area.

However, Tim Krul dealt with it easily at his near post.

13.52 – At the other end, Seb Larsson gives away a free kick which the goal-scorer Yohan Cabaye strikes brilliantly from fully 40 yards, forcing Sunderland’s ‘keeper into making the save.

After twenty minutes it really is all Newcastle. Sunderland would do well to remember this is an early kick-off.

13.57 – RED CARD: Tiote. 24 mins

Cheick Tiote gets his marching orders for leaving his foot in on a 50-50 challenge with Steven Fletcher and, yet, the referee Martin Atkinson gives the free kick to Newcastle.

14.04 – Sunderland have their first chance since the sending off but Adam Johnson spends so long trying to move the ball onto his left foot that the Newcastle defenders close down the angle and he can only send his shot wide.

14.09 – Sunderland win a free kick just outside the Newcastle penalty area. There’s a big shout for a handball but the ball hit the Newcastle defender’s hip and sails wide for a corner. The corner itself comes to nothing.

SUBSTITUTION: Perch for Ameobi

Newcastle realise that Sunderland are coming back into the game since the dismissal and bring on James Perch to replace Shola Ameobi in an effort to shore up their defences. Ameobi walks straight down the tunnel.

14.43 – From an Irish point of view today, it’s not great news.

John O’Shea could have done more for the Newcastle goal while James McClean has been virtually anonymous.

Indeed, it’s only when he is giving the ball away that he has actually caught the eye today.

14.54 – SUBSTITUTION: Saha for Sessegnon

Martin O’Neil has seen enough and decided to bring on some extra fire-power as Louis Saha replaces Stephane Sessegnon with 65 minutes gone.

15.01 – Newcastle almost shoot themselves in the foot there by dropping a tame James McClean shot into a crowded penalty area.

However, as with so much today, it’s a Newcastle player that’s first to the ball and the chance filters out.

15.05 – It was end to end stuff there for a couple of minutes as Demba Ba first failed to extend Newcastle’s lead before Sunderland missed two chances in quick succession through Louis Saha and Craig Gardner.

It hasn’t been the best of games in terms of skill or excitement but the tempo has been ferocious and that has to count for something.

Doesn’t it?

15.09 – SUBSTITUTION: Taylor for Coloccini

Newcastle take off their best player and captain for a guy who earlier this week said he’d rather take up stamp-collecting than play for Sunderland.

Welcome to the game Steven Taylor.

15.13 – The home fans thought they’d scored but Louis Saha’s close range shot found the outside of the net.

SUBSTITUTIONS: David Johnson for Adam Vaughan (Sunderland) and Gabriel Obertan for Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle)

15.19 – As we approach stoppage time, it’s all Sunderland now as James McClean’s shot drifts just wide of the Newcastle goal.

There will be a minimum of four minutes of injury time. Can someone find a winner?

15.23 – Sunderland are dominating the four minutes of injury time but they just can’t find a way through.

And that’s it, it’s all over at the Stadium of Light and both sides will feel they deserved more than the draw here.

15.29 – This game had everything you’d expect from a derby with skill at a premium but drama and intrigue in abundance.

Newcastle’s opener probably best summed up how wasteful Sunderland were when they had the ball, with Danny Rose giving it away before Cabaye pounced:



However, the sheer volume of possession the home side had means they probably deserved the good fortune that came with their equaliser.