Afternoon all. As far as footballing Sundays go, they don't get much bigger than this. It's derby day in the Premier League. Later the two Manchester sides will do battle, but first we have the top flight's two North East teams facing off at St James' Park. Both of these clubs are in big relegation danger, so there is so much riding on the outcome.

First things first, though, let's get some team news from Tyneside...

TEAM NEWS:

Newcastle: Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Lascelles, Colback; Shelvey, Sissoko, Townsend, Wijnaldum, Perez; Mitrovic
Subs: Darlow, Taylor, Anita, Saivet, De Jong, Riviere, Cisse

Sunderland: Mannone; Yedlin, Kone, Kaboul, Van Aanholt; Kirchhoff, M'Vila, Rodwell; Khazri, Borini; Defoe
Subs: Jones, Cattermole, Pickford, N'Doye, O'Shea, Lens, Toivonen

The big news for the away side is that Jermain Defoe is back in the starting lineup after he started the trip to Southampton last time out among the substitutes. The 33-year-old has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season, making him clearly Sunderland's leading goalscorer.

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That aside, it is an unchanged starting lineup that Sam Allardyce has picked for this short trip. Skipper John O'Shea remains among the substitutes, where he is joined by midfielders Lee Cattermole and Jeremain Lens. As far as support for lone striker Defoe goes, Wahbi Khazri and Fabio Borini will be playing in advanced midfield roles.

As for Rafael Benitez, he has opted to make two alterations from the side that was beaten by league leaders Leicester City on Monday night. January signing Andros Townsend is the headline name that has come into the team, replacing Vurnon Anita. The other player returning is the fit again Chancel Mbemba, who has come in at the expense of Steven Taylor.

There is also a boost on the bench in the form of Papiss Cisse. The striker has had plenty of injury problems this term, limiting him to just 13 appearances. However, he's back in the squad today and could end up playing a crucial role at some point.

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One man that will be hoping Cisse has a limited impact today is Allardyce, who had this to say in the days leading up to the encounter:

"All players wherever they come from are well aware of derbies. This one is as big as any in the country. To control the players emotions is one of the most important things I need to do [before the game]. We're playing well, we're playing consistently well and we need to make sure we continue that."

Meanwhile, in what is his first game in charge of Newcastle at St James' Park, Benitez offered up:

"This is the game for the fans, it's massive. I'm not too worried about that. I'm confident we can win, but the main thing is staying up. I don't care if we lose the derby and stay up.

"The main thing is to do the job and take the three points because that will give everyone a good feeling, but the priority is staying up. If you can me guarantee me that I lose the derby and stay up, I will take that. We will have more chances to win, even if we lose the derby, but it will make it a lot more difficult."

SIX IN A ROW! Sunderland fans are quick to let you know that they have won the last six meetings between these two sides, which is a club record. During that time they've scored 13 goals to Newcastle's 1, despite the fact that the Magpies lead the overall chances 109-75. Amazingly, the Black Cats have had four different managers in those six games, while Newcastle have had three different gaffers.

What would it mean if Sunderland extended that run to seven victories, then? They would move out of the relegation zone on goal difference and also put four points between themselves and Newcastle. Three points for the home side would not lift them out of the relegation zone, but it would certainly brighten the mood around the club. Were they to lose, survival would become a very tall order. For a full look at the Premier League table, click here.

SENOR BENITEZ! It is still a bit strange to think of Benitez as the Newcastle manager. This is a man that has won La Liga and the Champions League. He is used to battling for big honours, not fighting relegation. Of course we all know that he has a relegation clause in his contract, but he will not want to use that. He'll want to keep the Magpies in the Premier League. He's certainly made an early mark on the club by cancelling days off and introducing double training sessions.

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Those double sessions could count against Benitez and Newcastle, though, according to former England winger Trevor Sinclair. He's just been speaking to BBC Sport:

"I think Sunderland will win. You need cool heads on derby days, you do not want them excited or emotional. The build up is huge, players are well aware of the attention from fans. Keep a cool head, keep nice and calm, whoever executes that the best will come out on top.

"I would prefer to be in the Sunderland camp rather than Newcastle where they have done double training. You want to be as fresh and relaxed to give yourself the best chance to win the game."

There is one positive for Benitez and that is his record as a manager against Sunderland. During his time in charge of Liverpool he faced the Black Cats 10 times, which yielded a return of nine wins. The one loss came courtesy of Darren Bent's infamous beach ball goal in 2009.

Scoring goals is the main issue for Benitez, though. Only a hapless Aston Villa (22) side have found the net less times than Newcastle (28) this season. Georginio Wijnaldum is the club's leading scorer in the Premier League with nine, but four of those came in one match and he has not netted in seven outings. And then, of course, there is this...

627 - Newcastle have managed to score just one goal in their last 627 minutes of football against Sunderland. Subdued. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 20, 2016

Right, the players are now making their way out on to the pitch. As you would expect, there is a fantastic atmosphere inside St James' Park. The importance of this game is clear.

KICKOFF! Visiting Sunderland, decked out in lime green, get us started on Tyneside. Huge 90 minutes ahead.

CHANCE! The first opening of the match and it falls to Sunderland. Van Aanholt's floated pass is headed back across goal by Borini for Defoe. The veteran frontman takes one touch, spins and then unleashes a shot, but the ball flies well over the crossbar.

CHANCE! And now we've had a decent opening up the other end. It's all about Townsend as he drives at the Sunderland defence and ends up tricking his way into the box. His cross is perfect for Mitrovic, yet from 10 yards out, he volleys way over. Nonetheless, it's lifted the home crowd.

SAVE! It's you attack, we attack at the moment. Sunderland's Rodwell rises highest to meet Khazri's free kick, but his powerful header is tipped over the top by Elliot in the Newcastle goal.

CHANCE! Back up the other end, Townsend is causing Sunderland all sorts of problems. It's another great cross from the England international, that skids towards the back post. An unmarked Sissoko is waiting for it, but he cannot keep his effort on target and when the ball eventually falls for Shelvey 20 yards from goal, he lashes wide.

He may be back playing in his native Spain now, but Carlos Cuellar remains fond of Sunderland it would seem:

All ready watching the derby!! Cmon lads!! 🔴⚪️🔴⚪️ #safc #HawayTheLads #unbeaten pic.twitter.com/J2WsK8ei9p — Carlos Cuellar (@Cuellar24) March 20, 2016

BOOKING! The first yellow of the clash goes to ex-Sunderland defender Colback for a late sliding challenge on Borini. It's his 10th caution of the campaign and means that he will miss Newcastle's next two matches.

CHANCE! The ball hits the net and Sunderland fans are up on their feet cheering, but the ball in fact cannons into the side netting from Defoe. He should do better to be honest after Rodwell cuts the ball back for the striker, yet he can only shoot wide from eight yards out. Nine times out of 10 Defoe scores those sort of chances.

CHANCE! So close for Defoe again! This time Khazri drills the ball across the face of goal, but Defoe cannot stretch far enough and he is just inches away from making contact at the back post. The visitors are on top.

After those flurry of Sunderland chances, we've had a bit of a lull in proceedings. Even so, it's still Sunderland that are dominating the contest, with Newcastle doing much of the chasing.

A foul by Kaboul on Perez 20 yards from goal gives Newcastle a free kick in a very dangerous position...

...and Shelvey fires wide. He goes the same side as Mannone is standing and although he dives, the Sunderland goalkeeper is able to watch the ball fly off target.

BOOKING! A second caution for Newcastle and it's their other full-back - Janmaat - that sees yellow. He's cautioned for blocking off Kirchhoff.

In the last 10 minutes or so, Defoe has found himself quite isolated up front for Sunderland. To be fair, that's partly down to Newcastle because they're seeing much more of the ball now, which is forcing the likes of Borini and Khazri to defend.

Isolated you say?! Not a bit of it! Khazri plays a corner outside the box for Borini, who drills it goalwards. It's a stinging effort that Elliot can only send straight up into the air. The ball eventually drops for Defoe and showing great technique, he powers a volley into the back of the net from eight yards out. He could quite easily have sent that flying over the top. It's a big goal and Sunderland lead.

Well, what a way to end the first half for Sunderland. It will be no surprise to learn that their supporters are making a massive din as the referee blows for the break at St James' Park.

From a Newcastle point of view, quite simply it's not been good enough. I mentioned before the match that goals have been a problem and on the evidence of today you can see why. In Townsend and Shelvey they now have the players to create the chances, but nobody to stick them away on a consistent basis. He may go on to prove me wrong in the second half, but it doesn't seem as though Mitrovic is the answer. He works hard, but when it really matters in an around the box, he is often found wanting. They need a Defoe!

And it's because of that man Defoe that Sunderland lead. He wasted a couple of half chances earlier in the game, but he wasn't going to keep missing. It's actually been a decent enough display all round from the Black Cats. Kirchhoff and M'Vila have provided a brilliant shield in front of the back four, while Borini and Khazri have supported Defoe well. More of the same in the second half and the three points could well be heading back to Wearside.

MATCH ACTION! Here's a shot of Sunderland's Van Aanholt and Newcastle winger Townsend battling for possession of the ball.

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RESTART! Newcastle, who trail 1-0, get proceedings back underway.

OFF THE LINE! Positive start from Newcastle and they are almost gifted an equaliser by Mannone in the Sunderland goal. He comes flying out to meet and Townsend corner, but gets nowhere near the ball. It eventually finds Perez who prods goalwards, only for M'Vila to hack the ball off the line.

BOOKING! Well, Newcastle now lead the bookings tally 3-0. This time it's the skipper Shelvey that gets his name taken down for a crunching challenge on Kirchhoff. He can have no complaints with that.

SAVE! Better movement from Mitrovic as he darts towards the near post to meet Sissoko's inswinging cross from the left flank. His downward header is a powerful one, but Mannone is right behind it and holds the ball.

STAT!

13 - The away side has never lost when scoring first in a Premier League Tyne-Wear derby (W6 D7). Impetus. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 20, 2016

SAVE! What a stop from Elliot to keep Newcastle in this game. It's a fantastically struck effort from Sunderland left-back Van Aanholt, who is just eight yards out. Somehow, though, Elliot gets his hand up just in time to send the ball over the bar.

NEWCASTLE SUB: Colback, who is on a booking, comes trudging off and is replaced by De Jong. That has seen Sissoko drop into the unfamiliar surroundings of left-back, with Perez going to left wing. De Jong will sit behind Mitrovic.

The natives are starting to get restless at St James' Park as Newcastle either pass the ball backwards and sideways, or give away possession.

And now Mannone has come off his line and comfortably held a Townsend corner. Those groans from the Newcastle supporters are getting louder.

NEWCASTLE SUB: Second change for the Magpies and again it's a full-back that leaves the action. Janmaat has been replaced by fellow Dutchman Anita.

SUNDERLAND SUB: It's been a towering display from Kaboul, but he's now coming off for Sunderland and is replaced by O'Shea. You would assume that Kaboul has picked up an injury because he's been fantastic for the visitors.

SUNDERLAND SUB: Another switch for Sunderland as a tired-looking Khazri is replaced by N'Doye.

NEWCASTLE SUB: There's substitutions happening all over the place right now! After almost four months out with a groin problem, Cisse is back. He's come on for Townsend.

We've got 10 minutes plus stoppage time to go and right now Newcastle do not look like they are going to score an equaliser. They're having plenty of the ball, but as soon as they get 20 or so yards from goal, the ideas appear to run out.

But then, what do I know?! They have done very little in front of goal this afternoon, yet Newcastle are level and it's Mitrovic that is the hero. Wijnaldum does well to drift a cross over towards the back post, where the Serbian gets up above Yedlin to send his headed effort bouncing into the far corner of the net. Off comes his shirt in celebration and he's predictably booked, but nobody of a Newcastle persuasion cares about that.

SUNDERLAND SUB: Shortly after that goal Sunderland made their final switch as Cattermole replaced the impressive Kirchhoff.

BOOKING! As we enter four minutes of stoppage time, Sunderland keeper Mannone is booked for time wasting.

This doesn't look good for Mitrovic as he goes down with a head injury following a clash with Kone. He's now up and wants to stay on, but the Newcastle medical staff are saying no. The striker is bitterly unhappy, but with head injuries you have to be so careful. Benitez has told him to go get treatment and Newcastle will finish this match with 10 men.

There goes the final whistle and it's a result that helps neither side really in the big scheme of things. Both teams remain in the bottom three and deep in relegation trouble, although from a Newcastle point of view, at least they have ended a run of six straight Tyne-Wear derby defeats.

That is all we have time for from St James' Park this afternoon. Thanks for joining Sports Mole's coverage and until next time, goodbye.