Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between Sunderland and Norwich City.

Sunderland will be looking to bounce back from their opening-day defeat at the hands of Leicester City this afternoon. The Black Cats were hammered 4-2 by Claudio Ranieri's side at the King Power Stadium, and in the end the 4-2 scoreline may have flattered them as the Foxes had several great chances to increase the margin on their victory. Dick Advocaat will be adamant that his team have to produce a response this afternoon.

The Canaries also tasted defeat in their return to the top flight as they were brought back down to earn by a 3-1 defeat by Crystal Palace. Alex Neil's men fell 2-0 behind at Carrow Road by making a couple of careless lapses at the back, but they nearly came back into the game as Nathan Redmond drew them within one goal, while Cameron Jerome saw his effort chalked out for a high boot. It was a harsh call and Neil's side also saw a decent shout for a penalty turned down before Yohan Cabaye sealed the win for the Eagles in stoppage time. There is more than enough to build on from their first fixture and they will be eyeing their first points of the season this afternoon.

STAT ATTACK! First stat of the afternoon. Norwich have failed to beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light since 1997. Their last victory came in the 1997-98 campaign when a goal from Daryl Sutch handed them a 1-0 win, but since then they have gone six trips without a win.

The team news has been announced and we will start with the home side.

SUNDERLAND STARTING XI: Pantilimon; Jones, Kaboul, Coates, Van Aanholt; Cattermole, Larsson, M'Vila; Defoe, Lens, Fletcher
Subs: Mannone, Bridcutt, Rodwell, Watmore, Matthews, O'Shea, Graham

NORWICH STARTING XI: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Brady; Redmond, Tettey, Dorrans, Howson; Hoolahan; Jerome
Subs: Rudd, Wisdom, Johnson, Grabban, Hooper, R Bennett, O'Neil

Sunderland make two changes from their defeat to Leicester as Yann M'Vila makes his debut for the Black Cats following his loan move from Rubin Kazan, while Steven Fletcher starts from the opening whistle after being named on the bench in his side's opener. Adam Johnson has been ruled out of action with a shoulder injury, although the Wearsiders received good news that the problem was not as severe as first thought. In the other change, Jack Rodwell drops out of the starting lineup to accomodate M'Vila. Emanuele Giaccherini is injury and is unable to take his place on the bench so youngster Duncan Watmore is given a place in the squad this afternoon.

Sunderland make two changes from their defeat to Leicester as Yann M'Vila makes his debut for the Black Cats following his loan move from Rubin Kazan, while Steven Fletcher starts from the opening whistle after being named on the bench in his side's opener. Adam Johnson has been ruled out of action with a shoulder injury, although the Wearsiders received good news that the problem was not as severe as first thought. In the other change, Jack Rodwell drops out of the starting lineup to accomodate M'Vila. Emanuele Giaccherini is injury and is unable to take his place on the bench so youngster Duncan Watmore is given a place in the squad this afternoon.

Norwich also make two changes from their opening-day defeat to Palace. Goalscorer Redmond comes into the team on the left wing to replace Bradley Johnson in an attacking selection by Neil, while Jerome starts in place of Lewis Grabban to lead the line after his strong performance off the bench at Carrow Road last week. Grabban had a difficult afternoon as he missed a glorious chance in the first half against the Eagles and has paid the price this week as he drops to the bench. New signing Robbie Brady continues at left back in the absence of Martin Olsson, but fellow new boy Andre Wisdom cannot oust Steven Whittaker from the right-back spot.

STAT ATTACK! Sunderland won just four out of their 19 Premier League home matches last season. Two of which came under Advocaat in the final three months of the campaign.

Sunderland are going through their paces ahead of kickoff at the Stadium of Light.

The Lads are out for the warm up #SAFC #HawaytheLads pic.twitter.com/GnGLx9p9bf — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) August 15, 2015

Neil has conceded that he and his players are preparing for a backlash from Sunderland this afternoon following their display on the opening day of the campaign.

He told the club's official website: "We're expecting a bit of a backlash. They didn't get the result that they wanted and probably not the performance they wanted either.

"I'd imagine with them being at home, the fans will be up for it and the players likewise. We've got our own agenda though, so we need to make sure we go there and do everything that we can to come away with the points."

Advocaat has admitted that his side are in desperate need of new addition. Although they have added five players over the course of the summer, the hammering at the hands of Leicester has increased the urgency for further signings. Fabio Borini and Adnan Januzaj were linked with loan moves, but the Belgian reiterated his desire to stay at Manchester United as he netted in their 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Friday.

"I still think we desperately need another couple of players in," Advocaat told reporters. "We'll be so happy on September 1 [deadline day], because things here change every day. A 'yes', a 'no', another 'no' and then a 'maybe'.

"We have not spent so much so far, in my opinion."

STAT ATTACK! Norwich are currently on a four-match unbeaten run against the Black Cats. Winning two of the games and drawing two, including in their last two visits to the Stadium of Light.

Alex Tettey will have good memories of facing the Black Cats as he scored a screamer in the last meeting between the sides to hand the Canaries a 2-0 victory at Carrow Road in the 2013-14 season. The Norway international starts in the heart of the midfield today and will be hopeful of having the same impact on the match this afternoon.

Here is what Sports Mole's pundits on their comfortable sofa believe will happen this afternoon.

Considering both teams' defensive efforts last week we could be in store for a few goals this afternoon. For all the negatives last week, Sunderland were boosted by the fact that Jermain Defoe and Fletcher opened their accounts in the season at the King Power Stadium. Norwich were also a threat in the final third as Redmond found the net with a good low drove, while Jerome's second should have been allowed to stand. The only problem for both teams is their defensive capabilities which could scare their respective managers into a negative approach today, and, quite frankly, who could blame them,

STAT ATTACK! Defoe will make his 400th in the Premier League this afternoon as he leads the line for the Black Cats, although by the look of their formation he could be playing on the wing.

REFEREE WATCH! Today's man in the middle is Kevin Friend, who has officiated 117 matches in the Premier League. He has handed out 436 bookings and 18 red cards in his time in the top flight.

PREDICTION: Sunderland may just have enough to win this game and only because the clash is verging on the must-win category, while the Canaries may just have to invest a little bit more money to survive this season as they are lacking in quality especially in the forward areas. 2-1 to the Black Cats!

The players are out on the pitch so we should be underway shortly.

KICKOFF! We're underway at the Stadium of Light

Threat down the left for the Canaries as Brady raids down the flank and he is allowed to whip a low ball across the face of goal, but Coates is alert to clear the danger at the near post.

Neither team has been able to take the ball down and control it for a period of possession. It has been a very cagey start to the game by both sides, but the Canaries will not mind that.

YELLOW CARD! Bassong goes into the book as Fletcher releases the run of Lens down the left and the centre-back brings down the Netherlands international.

Larsson stands over the ball and lifts the free kick from the left into the box, but his delivery is poor and the Canaries can clear with ease.

SHOT! A loose ball outside the box falls to Larsson after Cattermole and M'Vila battle to win the ball. The Swede strikes with venom, but his goalbound effort is deflcted behind for a corner.

YELLOW CARD! Lens goes into the book for Sunderland as he brings down Hoolahan in the centre circle. The midfielder was away and Friend had no alternative but to produce the yellow card.

Brady finds space down the left again and his cross flies across the face of goal but Redmond cannot make contact at the back post. The Canaries recycle the ball and it finds Brady again on the left, who takes the ball inside to drill an effort at goal, but his strike sails wide of the target.

Sunderland work the ball well in midfield and Cattermole arcs a lofted pass out wide to Van Aanholt in plenty of space down the left wing, but he cannot control the ball and it sails out for a throw-in. Poor from the left-back he had the freedom of the left if he had taken the ball down.

A mistake from Van Aanholt allows Hoolhan in down the left and the midfield cuts on to his left foot to strike at goal, but Coates comes across to make a vital block to divert the ball behind for a corner.

An opportunity for Norwich as they win a free kick right on the edge of the box as Jerome is brought down by Kaboul. Brady stands over the ball.

What a waste! Brady fires the ball at goal, but his effort slams into the knees of the Sunderland players in the wall. This match has not been high on quality in the final third.

M'Vila wins the ball in midfield and finds Defoe. The striker raids to the edge of the box and tries to feed the run of Fletcher before firing at goal and his pass is ahead of the Scot, allowing Ruddy to gather.

CHANCE! Howson collects the ball on the edge of the box and has space and time to drive the ball at goal with his right foot, but Pantilimon manages to get his hand to the ball to push it out for a corner. Great save by the keeper.

Norwich take the lead as they take a short corner and Brady is allowed to strike at goal from the right. His effort is well saved by Pantilimon, but the ball bounces off Martin next to the keeper and trickles into the net. Huge moment in the game for the visitors.

Sunderland look shell shocked by the goal and are completely out of a passing rhythm. Norwich can really put a nail in the coffin with a second goal here.

A long ball over the top almost sees Jerome through on goal as he and Kaboul are in a foot race for the ball, but the Frenchman does just enough to win the ball and Coates clears it away for a throw-in. The Black Cats are under immense pressure at the back.

Coates gives away a free kick 25 yards from goal as he brings down Jerome. Further danger for the hosts as Redmond stands over the ball.

Redmond's effort slams into the wall and the Black Cats manage to clear the danger as Kaboul heads the ball clear. It is all one-way traffic at the moment.

Matters get worse for the home side as Redmond and Whittaker combine down the right and the full-back maintains his composure to fire a low effort through Pantilimon at his near post to double his side's advantage. Boos echo around the Stadium of Light as the Canaries take complete control of this game.

CHANCE! Norwich press forward in numbers down the right and the cross comes into the box as the Sunderland defence are all over the shop. The ball eventually comes to Jerome six yards from goal, but he blasts his effort over the bar. Norwich could be out of sight here.

CHANCE! An opportunity for Sunderland to get back into the game as Lens is able to get the better of Whittaker down the left and his cross finds Fletcher at the back post, but the Scot cannot direct his header on target. That needed to go in for the home side.

The tempo of the game has dropped over the course of the last few minutes as Norwich seem quite content to sit on their two-goal lead.

There will be three minutes of added time.

Norwich will be delighted with their efforts in the first half as they lookd well on course to secure their first victory of the season. They took the lead in slightly fortuitous circumstances as Robbie Brady's effort was well saved by Costel Pantilimon, but the rebound hit Russell Martin and trickled into the net. The second was down to a good team move down the right a Steven Whittaker and Nathan Redmond exchanged passes to set the full-back into the box, and he held his composure to drill an effort through Pantilimon. An excellent opening 45 minutes for the Canaries.

Norwich will be delighted with their efforts in the first half as they lookd well on course to secure their first victory of the season. They took the lead in slightly fortuitous circumstances as Robbie Brady's effort was well saved by Costel Pantilimon, but the rebound hit Russell Martin and trickled into the net. The second was down to a good team move down the right a Steven Whittaker and Nathan Redmond exchanged passes to set the full-back into the box, and he held his composure to drill an effort through Pantilimon. An excellent opening 45 minutes for the Canaries.

If Dick Advocaat wanted new signing before kickoff, he could need a whole new team now as the Black Cats were awful in the first half. Defensively they were cut open time and time again as Younes Kaboul and Sebastian Coates struggled immensely, which left-back Patrick van Aanholt allowed the freedom of the Stadium of Light to Steven Whittaker and Nathan Redmond. Going forward Advocaat's men lacked quality with their final ball, which will have to change if they have any hope of getting back into the match.

SUBSTITUTION: Danny Graham replaces Sebastian Larsson at the break.

RESTART! We're back underway at the Stadium of Light.

SHOT! Lens receives the ball down the right and cuts back on to his left foot to strike at goal, but the shot is easily saved by Ruddy.

YELLOW CARD! Tettey goes into the book for the visitors for a poor challenge on Defoe.

Norwich raid down the right through Redmond who lifts his cross to the back post for the run of Jerome, but he cannot flick the ball back towards his teammates in the middle as Coates boots the ball clear.

Cattermole makes a nice move in midfield and raids forward to slide a through-ball into the path of Graham, who takes a nice first touch into the box. However, the offside flag has been raised and the attack is brought to a grinding halt.

Sunderland win a corner down the right and Lens lifts the ball into the box where Kaboul rises to head at goal, but he cannot direct his effort on target as his effort sails wide.

Oh boy! The Sunderland fans are leaving the Stadium of Light in their droves as Redmond finds the net from close range after the Black Cats fell asleep from throw-in. The winger exchanged passes with Jerome before prodding the ball past Pantilimon into the bottom corner.

Sunderland have a half-hearted appeal for a penalty turned down as Jones goes to the ground in the box, but referee Kevin Friend waves away their claims.

Chants of 'are you watching Ellis Short' ring around the Stadium of Light. The fans are not happy with the club's owner as Sunderland have invested a net total of £6m this summer.

There has been no response from Sunderland to going 3-0 down. Norwich are in cruise control at the moment and seem quite content to sit on their lead unless the Black Cats hand them another goal.

Jerome is played down the left by Hoolahan and has all sorts of time and space to raid into down the right flank. He drills a low shot at goal from a tight angle, but his effot goes inches past the post.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Grabban replaces Jerome for the visitors, while Duncan Watmore come for Steven Fletcher for the hosts for the final 20 minutes.

Jones is able to push forward down the right for the home side and has players to hit in the middle as he gets to the byline, but his low cross is turned behind by Bradley Johnson.

Watmore makes strides against Whittaker down the left and attempts to fire the ball into the middle, but his cross is deflected behind for a corner. However, the set piece comes to nothing for the home side.

Redmond is almost in again for the visitors as he coasts into space down the right in the final third, but Pantilimon is able to come out from his box to gather the loose ball.

Coates makes a good challenge to deny Redmond in the final third, but the loose ball falls into the path of Grabban who shoots at goal, but Kaboul makes the last-ditch block. M'Vila wins a free kick for the home side to ease the danger.

Norwich are passing the ball around with ease at the back and are playing some lovely football when it goes forward to further frustrate the Black Cats. There look to be more empty seats than people at the Stadium of Light at the moment.

Grabban is played down the inside right channel and raids towards goal. He then decides to cut the ball back to Johnson on the edge of the box, but the strike is blocked by Cattermole.

SUBSTITUTION: O'Neil comes on to replace Redmond for the visitors.

Watmore steals the ball off Whittaker and speeds into the area, but Martin is alert to the danger to cut the cross into the box off and divert it behind for a corner.

Sunderland win a free kick down the left as Lens gets brought down. The Dutchman whips the ball into the box and it is cleared, but only into the path of Watmore, who registers his first goal for the Black Cats with a sliced volley into the net.

There will be three minutes of added time.

Grabban beats Van Aanholt down the right and lifts the ball into the box for Johnson to head at goal. Jones gets up to block the header, but the midfielder almost gets a second crack at the ball, but the Black Cats clear it away.

What a result for Norwich and manager Alex Neil. After the disappointment of last week's defeat to Crystal Palace they are off and running in the Premier League this season with a comprehensive 3-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The Canaries bossed the game from the 30th minute and were clinical in the final third of the pitch, and also benefitted from diabolical defending from the home side. However, Neil and his side will not care as they fully deserve their first win of the season.

Afternoons do not get much worse for Sunderland and Dick Advocaat. His side were horrendous at the back and limited going forward. You cannot blame the Dutchman too much as his team made fundamental errors which should not occur in the Premier League, but they did and as a result it was a heavy defeat for the Black Cats in front of their fans. The supporters appeared to vent their frustrations at owner Ellis Short, but the American was not at the ground. Will he act before the end of the transfer window?

Thanks for joining our commentary today. Be sure to stick with Sports Mole for the rest of our coverage of today's matches. Until next time, goodbye.