Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Sunderland and West Ham United at the Stadium of Light.

The Hammers come into this game on the back of a three-game winning streak which has seen them climb into the top four, knowing that by extending that run here today they can overtake Manchester United into third. A lack of wins for the home side – just two all season – has seen them drop to within two points of the relegation zone, meanwhile, needing three points this afternoon to push back up the table.

Kickoff in the North-East is less than an hour away, so let's begin by taking a look at how these two sides line up...

TEAM NEWS!

SUNDERLAND STARTING XI: Pantilimon, Vergini, Reveillere, O'Shea, Brown, Cattermole, Larsson, Gomez, Johnson, Wickham, Altidore

WEST HAM UNITED STARTING XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell, Song, Kouyate, Nolan, Downing, Sakho, Carroll

So just the one change made by Gus Poyet to his starting lineup for today's clash, then, with Lee Cattermole replacing Liam Bridcutt in the middle. Sebastian Coates, who was ineligible to face former club Liverpool last weekend, misses out once more, while Steven Fletcher also has to make do with a spot on the bench.

Elsewhere, Emanuele Giaccherini and Billy Jones are still not fit enough for a return, as the Black Cats turn to Connor Wickham and Jozy Altidore to lead the line in what should be an entertaining encounter at the Stadium of Light.

The visitors have made just the one change to their starting XI, too, as Enner Valencia drops out to make room for leading goalscorer Diafra Sakho. Alongside him up top will be Andy Carroll, who enjoyed a man of the match performance against Swansea City last time out, bagging two goals to help fire the Hammers temporarily up to third in the league table.

Mark Noble is still absent due to an Achillies injury, meanwhile, although West Ham still have plenty of options in the centre of the park with Kevin Nolan and Alex Song taking up their positions in the starting lineup this afternoon.

BENCH WATCH!

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Bridcutt, Rodwell, Fletcher, Alvarez, Coates, Buckley, Mannone

WEST HAM UNITED SUBS: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Collins, Amalfitano, Zarate, Valencia, Cole

So as already mentioned, Bridcutt drops to the bench for the home side, while Fletcher will be hoping to make an impact from the bench if called upon. Will Buckley and Jack Rodwell will be disappointed not to have been handed starting spots, also, but they may be given their chance to stake a claim later this afternoon.

There is to be no father-son meeting in the North-East today, meanwhile, as Diego Poyet has been left out of West Ham's matchday squad. The Hammers have plenty of attacking options to turn to should they need to this afternoon, not least Valencia who has been dropped to the bench for this trip, alongside Carlton Cole and Mauro Zarate.

Some pre-match comments from centre-back Winston Reid to whet the appetite...

WR: "It's going to be a difficult game. It's always tough coming up here to the north, but we'll be doing our best to get three points." — West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) December 13, 2014

Sunderland come into this game hovering just two points clear of the relegation zone, seemingly heading towards another relegation battle as we head into the final few fixtures of the year. Their biggest problem have been a failure to score goals; the difference between drawing games and claiming all three points to put it bluntly.

Defender Wes Brown claimed earlier this week that Sunderland have made themselves hard to beat this term, and there is certainly no denying that, but just two victories all season paints a rather bleak picture. In all, the Black Cats have been involved in nine goalless draws already - a tally that no other side in Premier League history can better at this stage of the campaign.

Furthermore, Poyet's charges have failed to find the net in seven of their last 11 outings, while experiencing shutouts in three of their last four games. It's by no means a disastrous start to the campaign, but there is no denying that the club needs to start picking up victories if they are to climb away from danger any time soon.

It's been a somewhat different story for West Ham of late, picking up three wins on the bounce - all in the space of seven days - to climb into the top four of the Premier League. There's even talk of European football being played at Upton Park next season, although Allardyce knows better than anyone that this is not the time for the Hammers to get ahead of themselves.

That said, victory today will see the Irons move up to third once more with Manchester United not playing until tomorrow afternoon. Having lost just one of their last nine games, things are looking good for the East-London outfit, yet it can all change so quickly. With five Prem games in the space of 19 days starting with today's trip up north - including games against Chelsea and Arsenal - things will become somewhat more clearer come the end of January.

While Sunderland have a bad record in front of goal - just two teams have scored less goals than them so far this season - it has been a different case entirely for Allardyce's charges. In fact, the Hammers boast the league's joint-third best attack alongside Man United, with high-spenders Chelsea and Manchester City unsurprisingly occupying the top two spots in this respect. That in large is down to the goalscoring form of Sakho who now has seven goals in his last nine appearances, while Carroll also chipped in with his first two of the term last weekend.

A little over 20 minutes to go until kickoff at the Stadium of Light...

Warm-ups well under way #SUNWHU pic.twitter.com/SAihHdPOOC — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) December 13, 2014

PREVIOUS MEETINGS: West Ham prevailed 2-1 in this fixture 12 months ago, thanks to goals from Mohamed Diame and Carroll. The Hammers have not had the best time of it in front of goal in this fixture in recent years, however, having failed to score in four of their last six games against today's opponents.

DID YOU KNOW? The Hammers have scored 12 headed goals this season, which is double the tally of the next best side in this particular department.

With kickoff fast approaching, now seems a good time to point you in the direction of Sports Mole's match preview, which will whet the appetite a little more ahead of today's clash...

PREDICTION: Sunderland have seemingly become specialists at holding sides to goalless draws of late, although it must be remembered that they have taken points off both Chelsea and Liverpool in recent weeks. If they are to climb well away from danger then this is surely the type of game that they must win, though. West Ham may be on a stellar run of form, but Sunderland should be able to hold their own this afternoon in a 2-1 victory.

It will be interesting to see that Carroll-Sakho tandem up top for the Hammers this afternoon should Allardyce opt to play with two out-and-out strikers. The Englishman has seemed to up his game since returning from a lengthy lay-off, alternating his movement inside the box to make life a little more difficult for defenders.

His brace against Swansea last weekend - his first goals for the club in eight moths - would have done him the world of good coming into the hectic festive period. It always helps when your strikers are scoring goals, and a key part of West Ham's success has been down to Sakho's ability to find the target this campaign, thanks in no small part to the work of Stewart Downing in midfield.

While a lot has been made about Sunderland's lack of goals, there is no denying that they have strikers more than capable of finding a way through the toughest of defences. Wickham penned a new long-term deal at the club this week and will be keen to repay the faith shown in his by returning to the form we saw at the back end of last season, while Altidore also has a point to make.

Well the two teams are now out onto the field, and the pre-match handshakes are out of the way with. This is a big games for both sides for different reasons, and come 5pm this afternoon things could look considerably different. Can Sunderland return to winning ways? Will West Ham extend their own winning run to four games? Let's find out...

KICKOFF! There's a lot of expectancy among supporters at the Stadium of Light this afternoon, as Sunderland get things underway.

It's been a quiet start to this game with no sort of rhythm at the moment. Downing saw one of his crosses cleared, but that aside it has been a case of both sides weighing each other up.

Wickham drifts to the right as he tries to link up play in the attacking third, but Nolan gets across to end the move. West Ham then managed to work the ball up the other end through Song, but Carroll was unable to capitalise on the break with his header.

SAVE! A hopeful cross into the box was not properly cleared by Reveillere, which allowed Jenkison to fire away on the volley. Pantilimon managed to get down low to keep the effort out with his legs, however, as West Ham look to up the ante in these early stages.

SAVE! Pantilimon forces into making another save, this time from Sakho who ran at two opposition defenders before getting a shot away from the edge of the box. Up the other end Wickham managed to work away a decent cross, which Reid did well to clear.

This game has well and truly opened up following a quiet opening spell. Carroll is picked out on the run inside the area by Downing's cross, but he fails to find the target.

Nolan avoids a booking after bringing down Vergini to the dismay of home supporters inside the Stadium of Light. The Hammers midfielder has scored six goals against Sunderland in his career to date, so it's easy to see why he is just a little disliked in these parts.

SAVE! That's the third time that Pantilimon has been called into action already this afternoon, and onc emore he has to deny Jenkinson who was picked out by Song on the diagonal. Jenkinson cut inside Reveillere, but was unable to beat the Sunderland stopper.

Arguably the home side's best passage of play ends with Johnson hanging a ball in the air for Wickham, who glanced his head narrowly over the bar. A very open game, although the home keeper has been by far the more busier so far.

Some good work from Johnson allows him to work half-a-yard inside the area, which leads to Tomkins shoving the midfielder over. A contentious decision, but referee Phil Dowd has pointed to the spot...

The penalty is drilled emphatically into the bottom right-hand corner of the net by Gomez, although Allardyce is still fuming on the touchline. Reid initially gave the ball away, with Johnson working some space in behind Cresswell on the right. Tomkins came across and appeared to put a hand on the midfielder, but it's fair to say that he went to ground a little easily.

24: No need to panic lads. We normally win from 1-0 down these days! West Ham have a corner [1-0] #SUNWHU

— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) December 13, 2014

Well West Ham were not behind for long, as Downing levels things up at the Stadium of Light against one of his former sides. The goal came about following some patient build-up play, with the ball being played to downing on the edge of the box. The in-form midfielder cut inside and saw his strike deflected beyond Pantilimon off the boot of Gomez.

Johnson's cross has slightly too much on it for Altidore to slide home, as Sunderland look to regain their advantage. It's been a good, end-to-end contest so far, with both sides having a goal to show for their work.

Incidentally Downing has now scored or assisted five goals in his last six Premier League appearances for the Hammers, highlighting his rejuvenation this season.

There's been a lull in the game over the last few minutes as both teams understandably take a little breather. It was never going to continue in the same manner as the opening 36 minutes or so, was it?

YELLOW CARD! Reid catches Altidore a little late on the edge of the box, which leads to the first caution of the afternoon.

The chances have dies down now as we enter the final five minutes of the half. West Ham won themselves a corner which was aimed in the direction of Carroll, but it was well headed away before it reached him. The Black Cats looked to stage a counter-attack, although Altidore's poor lay-off killed any momentum.

Song is given acres of space in the middle, which allows him to push forward before looking to pick out the run of Jenkinson around the back. Again, though, it was well dealt with and the Black Cats clear away.

Some quick-thinking from Cattermole saw the midfielder take a quick free kick which was knocked into the path of Gomez on the right. The Sunderland goalscorer whizzed a dangerous cross into the perfect zone between keeper and defence, but there was no home player on hand to tap home.

West Ham win a free kick in a dangerous position with a minute of added time remaining until half time. Five players are stood over the ball waiting to take it...

SAVE! Sakho was the man tasked with taking the free kick in the end, which he did well to get up and over the wall, but in the end it was a fairly comfortable stop from Pantilimon.

CHANCE! A huge opportunity for Altidore to fire his side ahead right on the brink of half time from six yards out, but he was unable to convert the ball which was played slightly behind him by Larsson from the right.

Phil Dowd brings the half to an end what has been an entertaining 45 minutes. Gomez put his side ahead from the spot following a contentious penalty decision, before Downing levelled up against one of his former clubs just seven minutes later.

It's been a somewhat pacey game so far, with some real end-to-end action, although it is the visitors who have created the better chances. Pantilimon has been forced into making four or five stops, but there was that golden opportunity for Altidore at the end of the opening 45 minutes, though.

STATS! There's been plenty of shots in the first half, with West Ham edging it 10-4, while in terms of attempts of attempts on target the Hammers have had six efforts compared to the Black Cats' one. Sunderland lead the possession count, though - 59%-41%.

PICS: The Hammers celebrate Stewart Downing's 29th-minute equaliser at @SunderlandAFC - it's 1-1 at half-time #SUNWHU pic.twitter.com/UaDgJqPS39

— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) December 13, 2014

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Play has resumed at the Stadium of Light, with both sides I'm sure looking to push on and take all three points from this one. Plenty to build on following the first half.

Jenkinson plays a terrific ball up the line for Sakho to latch on around the back of Sunderland's backline, although his cross is then cut out.

Reid is currently down inside the box following a tussle with Brown. It appears as though the centre-back was accidentally caught by the boot of Brown, leaving him in some discomfort.

The corner is finally taken as Carroll heads Downing's cross straight at Pantilimon. Reid is now back on the field following some treatment.

Larsson has his shot blocked following a Sunderland corner, while Wickham couldn't get an effort away moments later following another set piece. The hosts have a free kick in a dangerous area now, however, following a deliberate handball from Song on the edge of the area.

The home fans wanted a pen for that incident, but Dowd got the call spot on - it took place outside the area. The subsequent free kick is taken by Johnson, but Adrian punches the effort away.

YELLOW CARD! Sunderland have had a large amount of the ball this half, although when that finally looks to change with West Ham charging forward, Downing is brought down by Gomez. That is what you call taking one for the team from the Spaniard.

SAVE! Some good play by West Ham sees Cresswell played in on goal, but Pantilimon - not for the first time today - is quick off the mark to thwart the full-back.

That was by no means an easy chance which Cresswell squandered, but once more it came about following an overlap on the left with Downing playing the ball into his path. This one could still go either way as we enter the final 30 minutes.

SUNDERLAND SUBSTITUTION: Altidore's rather disappointing afternoon comes to an end, with Fletcher on to replace him. A different option for the hosts now, and a player who certainly knows how to score.

CHANCE! Sakho goes down inside the area, but the referee rightly waves play to continue. The ball is never cleared and it appeared to fall nicely into the path of Carroll, but he opted to loft it over Pantilimon with his effort ending a few inches of the bar.

West Ham are certainly creating all the half-chances now, and the latest once falls to Winston Reid inside the area. He managed to lose his marker, but couldn't quite head the corner on target.

Sunderland are living dangerously at the back. West Ham have far more purpose in an attacking sense compared to their opponents, and they are getting cross after cross into the box. Carroll couldn't quite find a way through with his latest attempt, however, instead winning a corner which came to nothing.

SUNDERLAND SUB: Poyet opts to make a change at a time when the Hammers look as though they could take the lead. Johnson departs with Ricky Alvarez coming on in his place.

PENALTY SHOUT! That change seems to have worked for Sunderland, because they have just mounted their first attack in what feels like an age. Alvarez was involved on the right-hand side with some silky footwork, eventually playing the ball to Larsson who saw his lofted ball into the area handled by Reid. Phil Dowd decided that it was no more than ball-to-hand, however, to the dismay of the Mackems.

Fletcher now has a shot at goal which Adrian gets down to save. The momentum has now swung back in Sunderland's favour - can they capitalise and regain their lead?

Sunderland are still on top, and you feel now that it is just a matter of time before Allardyce changes things up. He will see this as two points dropped should it finish at 1-1.

76: Song is unreal. It's like he has a forcefield around him that prevents opposition players from tackling him! [1-1] #SUNWHU

— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) December 13, 2014

It's very balanced again now, with Sunderland supporters urging their players on and West Ham's doing likewise. There's a lot of space opening up in midfield, making this one very hard to call heading into the final 10 minutes.

It's very balanced again now, with Sunderland supporters urging their players on and West Ham's doing likewise. There's a lot of space opening up in midfield, making this one very hard to call heading into the final 10 minutes.

YELLOW CARD! Downing becomes the latest player to enter the referee's book following a late challenge on Wickham near the touchline.

WEST HAM SUBSTITUTION: Nolan leaves the field to a chorus of boos, with Valencia coming on in his place. A change of shape for these final eight minutes or so.

YELLOW CARD! Now Wickham is shown a yellow after catching Tomkins with a high boot. This game has gone very scrappy all of a sudden.

SAVE! The ball falls perfectly for Wickham to strike on the edge of the area, and he does exactly that, forcing Adrian to tip it over. The striker struck that so clean, but it just wasn't enough to find a way past the Hammers stopper.

Is there going to be a late twist at the Stadium of Light? The momentum is swinging back and forth, with West Ham looking the more likely of the two to score over the last few minutes. They failed to make the most of a string of set pieces, however, with Sunderland holding on.

CLOSE! Andy Carroll comes within a few inches of winning the contest for the Irons. Song's through-ball managed to find the striker, and after a smart touch he managed to get a shot away from the edge of the box which flashed narrowly wide.

Five minutes of time has been added on at the end of this one, meaning that there is plenty of time for someone to become a hero and win all three points for their side.

Carroll went down following a clash with Fletcher which lead to the striker receiving some treatment, but he is now fine to continue for these final few minutes.

I think, as much as both teams want to win this one late on, neither wants to lose it at the death. A tense final couple of minutes await at the Stadium of Light.

Sakho leads what looks to be a promising West Ham counter, but a heavy touch in the final third allows Sunderland to wrestle back possession. One minute to go.

Wickham picks up the ball inside the area, but his shot is rather wild and flies well wide of goal.

So a 1-1 draw, then, which on the balance of things was pretty much the correct scoreline. Neither side could build on their first-half goals, ensuring that the contest ended all-square.

That's it from me in terms of live commentary, but stick around on Sports Mole as we bring you a full match analysis as well as in-depth player ratings from this afternoon's clash at the Stadium of Light.