Michael Emons
BBC Sport at St James' Park

Absolute carnage as Anthony Gordon gets his 17th goal of the season in all competitions, but only his sixth in the Premier League.

Sunderland have only themselves to blame with Luke O'Nien playing the ball out from the back, Nick Woltemade, an own goal scorer earlier in the season, nudged it to Gordon, who did the rest.

Even a Newcastle corner was cheered as if they had scored a goal so you can just imagine the scenes when the ball went in the net.

Rob Elliot
Newcastle goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

I don't know what Sunderland are doing. They are trying to play the ball out from the back, it's intercepted from Woltemade who played it to Gordon and he finished brilliantly. Sunderland in a derby are really on the back foot. It's a great start from Newcastle.

Ironic cheers ring out loud round St James' Park as Granit Xhaka swipes a wild effort wide.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at St James' Park

It is absolutely deafening and nearly got even louder with Anthony Elanga just heading over from an excellent cross from Lewis Hall.

Every Sunderland touch is being booed by the home fans and those in red and white high up behind the goal their side are defending are in great voice, but still struggling to make themselves heard.

Cool heads are needed among the Sunderland players. Goalkeeper Melker Ellborg almost gifting Anthony Gordon a chance won't help settle them.

Always needle in these games but not just on the pitch as Anthony Taylor runs towards the dugouts to give coaches from both benches a bit of a telling off.

Wonder how Melker Ellborg is finding his experience of this derby atmosphere?

Maybe he's taking it all in a bit too long as he dithers on the ball and is quickly closed by Anthony Gordon, but gets away with that one.

That gets the home fans going!

Lewis Hall pings in a brilliant cross as he spots Anthony Elanga charging into the area. Elanga rises and powers a header just over.

Alan Smith
Former Arsenal forward on Sky Sports

Sunderland defenders are going to have to be at it pace-wise as much as anything. There is so much speed in that Newcastle front three.

The energy in the stands is matched by the energy on the pitch as Anthony Gordon charges after Omar Alderete, closing him down so quickly he panics and hits the ball out of play.

One last big roar from the home and away fans before Sunderland get things under way.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at St James' Park

As expected, it is absolutely electric here.

Those black, white and gold flags that were mentioned earlier are now being waved very enthusiastically to create a sensational setting.

Throw in a stunning Magpies tifo across the entire side of one of the stands as well as banners at both ends of the ground.

One of them taunts Sunderland's long absence from the Premier League, saying 'Welcome to the region's capital - you've been gone for so long'.

If the match is half as good as the build-up, it is going to be something wonderful.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The players are out on the pitch, almost time for kick-off in the 159th meeting between these two rivals.

Sunderland are unbeaten in their last 10 league games against Newcastle (W7 D3), winning seven of the last eight.

It’s the joint-longest run either side has had without defeat in the history of the fixture (Newcastle also 10 between 1985 and 1997).

St James' Park is looking amazing with flags flying all around the ground and a huge tifo on one end.

Great atmosphere as kick-off approaches.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at St James' Park

Image source, Michael Emons

Having won promotion to the Premier League last season via the Championship play-off final, Sunderland's main objective this campaign would have been to avoid relegation.

With eight games left Sunderland have 40 points and may, even if they don't pick up another point this season, have already done enough to ensure their Premier League survival.

No team has been relegated from the top flight with 40 points since 2002-03, when 42 points were not enough to keep West Ham up.

But Sunderland and Regis le Bris will be aiming much higher. Win today and they go 11th, above Newcastle, and will be dreaming of a late push for a European spot.

They could also complete a first league double over Newcastle since recording two 1-0 wins over them in 2014-15. The home fans loudly booed the Sunderland team on to the pitch, while Sunderland fans sarcastically cheered when Nick Woltemade's name was announced - after the Germany striker scored an own goal when these sides met in December.

Nick Barnes
BBC Newcastle's Sunderland commentator

In one sense it's a fantastic occasion, in another it's a massive headache.

A madness in the build-up to the game itself. I always have a fear and a trepidation because I worry Sunderland will lose and all the fallout that comes with that. On the day itself, the anxiety, expectation, excitement and atmosphere makes it a remarkable occasion. I'm glad we've got one back, it has seemed like an eternity.

Matthew Raisbeck
BBC Newcastle Sport

When I think of the north-east derby i just think about passion. The passion both sets of fans have for their club and how much we get to experience that when a game is being played.

The 90 minutes is full of fever, passion and energy in the stands.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images