Game On! Sunderland v Newcastle

The natives pile in at Sunderland. It's here. It's finally here. The 147th Tyne-Wear derby is almost upon us, and what better way to spend it than on here with over NUFC fans?

Of course you could always argue that being at the game would be better, but with tickets for this one pretty much out of reach for a lot of fans it appears that won;t be the case aside for a lucky 2,500 or so travelling fans.

On the other hand there are plus points when it comes to avoiding a trip to Wearside in person. You won't pick up any of that stench that emanates from the area and you won't come face-to-face with the arsehole of humanity that reside in Sunderland. The y really are a "special" bunch!

Banter aside there is more than just a match to be played today.This one is too big to be called "just a game of football". It matters to too many people in the local area, on both sides of the divide, for it to be called "just another game".

Last time out we saw that both managers "get it" when it comes to the importance of this fixture. Both Alan Pardew and Martin O'Neill had words during the game and it was an altogether unsavoury incident. However it's something typifies the passion and intensity this fixture brings with it.

Anyway I don't need to write much more. Suffice to say that team news will be added below and I dare say that people will leave links to streams in the comments section below. For now though we'll just have to wait and see how it all pans out.

Howay the lads!

Sunderland: Simon Mignolet, Craig Gardner, Danny Rose, John O'Shea, Carlos Cuellar, Jack Colback, Seb Larsson, Adam Johnson, James McClean, Stephane Sessegnon, Stephen Fletcher

Subs: Kieran Westwood, Phil Bardsley, Frazier Campbell, Matt Kilgallon, David Vaughan, David Meyler, Louis Saha

Newcastle: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Davide Santon, Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye, Cheik Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi, Demba Ba

Subs: Steve Harper, Steven Taylor, Shane Ferguson, James Perch, Vurnon Anita, Gabriel Obertan, Papiss Cisse