As pictures go, this will simply not be beaten all day. 

Image source, Reuters

Alan Green
Match of the Day commentator

I'll whisper it very quietly when I'm in the North East on Sunday - at Middlesbrough for 5 live - but, however disappointing, I'm not surprised seeing Sunderland in the nether regions of the table.

But I'm shaken by the state Stoke are in. I thought the progress they had made under Mark Hughes, his new signings and the change in the style of play all pointed to a regular position in the top half. Maybe not.

These two sides have conceded more goals than most, but an effort to change that might mean we'll see very few in this game.

Image source, Reuters

Stoke make one change with defender Phil Bardsley coming into the starting XI, replacing injured full-back Glen Johnson. Goal machine Joe Allen is fit after picking up an injury playing for Wales.

Stoke XI: Grant; Bardsley, Martins Indi, Shawcross, Pieters; Cameron, Whelan; Arnautovic, Allen, Shaqiri; Bony

Image source, .

Sunderland make three changes from the side that drew 1-1 at West Brom.

Patrick van Aanholt, Jack Rodwell and Papy Djilobodji come in for Jason Denayer, Jan Kirchhoff and Lamine Kone.

Sunderland XI: Pickford; Manquillo, O'Shea, Djilobodji, Van Aanholt; Rodwell, Ndong, McNair; Watmore, Defoe, Khazri

Image source, .

Dion Dublin
Former Leicester and Man Utd forward on Football Focus

I am concerned about Sunderland. I can't see where they are going to get their points from. I can't see them getting through it. They can score goals but their defence just looks leaky. I think Stoke can look back at last season, Mark Hughes can see they have beaten teams, that they have got good players. But I don't think you can make the same comparison with Sunderland.

Alan Green
Match of the Day commentator

I'll whisper it very quietly when I'm in the North East on Sunday - at Middlesbrough for 5 live - but, however disappointing, I'm not surprised seeing Sunderland in the nether regions of the table.

The new manager and, always it seems, the fans expected as much.

But I'm shaken by the state Stoke are in. I thought the progress they had made under Mark Hughes, his new signings and the change in the style of play all pointed to a regular position in the top half. Maybe not.

These two sides have conceded more goals than most, but an effort to change that might mean we'll see very few in this game.

We'll be back with our usual mix of news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Monday, but keep an eye out here for more updates this evening. 

Mary Rhodes
Presenter, BBC Midlands Today

On Midlands Today from 18:30 on BBC One we'll hear how drivers are being warned by police that "car cloning" appears to be on the rise in the West Midlands. 

We'll also update you on the disappearance of 10 cats from one street in Kidsgrove in the space of a week. 

And we'll look ahead to Stoke City's game this weekend and bring you your weather forecast for the next two days.

Jack Dowling
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke

A street in the centre of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent is going to be made a one-way road from Monday as part of £1.3m , externallandscaping scheme. 

Image source, Google

The city council's currently spending the money on new pavements, benches and lighting around the Trinity Street area.

As part of the work, the authority says it's changing the road layout which will make Trinity Street one-way in the direction of the city centre from the junction with Marsh Street, to make the place "pedestrian friendly".

Graham McGarry
Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra's players have been warned they'll face a difficult test tomorrow despite Notts County losing their last three games.

Image source, Getty Images

The Alex are one point better off than their opponents in the league table.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

There are some stunning views in Staffordshire and Cheshire and this one's from near Eccleshall and was taken by Simon Crofts.

Image source, Simon Crofts

Keep sending your pictures of the area in on email, tweet @BBCRadioStoke, external with them or put them on Instagram (adding the tag #bbcstoke if you agree to share them), external.

Leek Post and Times

Leek and District Samaritans are marking 50 years of supporting people with nowhere else to turn. , external

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

We've had a response from the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, after an investigation named it among the most expensive hospital trusts in England for car parking charges. 

The figures from the Press Association news agency said the trust charges £3 for a one-hour stay at Leighton Hospital in Crewe.

The Mid Cheshire trust says the £3 charge covers parking stays from 25 minutes up to four hours, external, it offers many concessions and says prices haven't changed for a number of years.

It says the money from the charges goes into paying for things like management of the sites and security, adding, if it didn't have that income, it would have to use patient care budgets to cover the costs.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Evidence of medieval mining pits, possible Tudor roads and World War One practice trenches, external have been revealed on Cannock Chase, according to the county council. 

The authority says it's been working with Historic England to examine the area from the air using "laser scanning technology".

Image source, Historic England

Those behind the project say it's revealed some of the history of Cannock Chase without having to excavate.

Now they've analysed the images, showing indications of features such as trenches and mines, the council says they'll be exploring such areas from ground-level in "the coming months".

Ben Godfrey
BBC Midlands Today

The owner of one of 10 cats that went missing from the same street in Kidsgrove in a week, says a vet's told her that her pet had been poisoned, possibly with anti-freeze. 

Popeye was among the cats reported missing from or near Everest Road between 29 September and 6 October.

His owner Marie Castrey was told on Thursday he had been found two miles away in woodland near Scholars Green. 

He's been put down and Ms Castrey told the BBC: "He would never have strayed that far. What's bizarre is another cat that went missing in September turned up in the same area. It's very suspicious."

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

We'll have a final look for Friday at the top stories we're covering:

- One of 10 cats that went missing from the same Staffordshire street in a week has been put down after being found poisoned

- Charges are being introduced from next month in Staffordshire for getting rid of DIY and landscaping waste at the county council's , externalrecycling centres  

- Staffordshire's Chief Constable is to retire next summer, saying it's not been an easy decision, external

Here's something you don't often see - Central Motorway Police Group tweeted this picture of an unusual vehicle next to one of their cars at Hilton Services.

Graham McGarry
BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Nantwich Town are calling on local support from the town to help them in their attempt to reach Monday's FA Cup first round draw.   

The Dabbers are at home tomorrow afternoon to Stourbridge in the final qualifying round., external

Chairman Tony Davison (featured in video) says if they make it through and land a "so-called big team" in the first round, it would be "massive" for the club and the town.  

Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire

Some rail services in the Midlands have already been affected by leaves on the line, so London Midland has taken the opportunity to explain what the problem is., external

It says the issue is not piles of leaves blocking the rails, it's the residue they leave behind, which coats the tracks and train-wheels with a hard, slippery substance.

This makes braking difficult and London Midland compares it to braking on black ice.

It says millions of pounds are spent each year tackling the problem and that it has to advise its drivers to take it slowly.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Burglars have used a cat flap to get into a house in Lichfield, external. 

Image source, Google

Staffordshire Police say they forced the flap open yesterday afternoon and reached in to open the door of the house on Quarry Hills Lane, using the keys left in the door. 

They then stole cash and car keys to a vehicle, a blue BMW, which they then took as they made off.

Tamworth Herald

Discussions over two upcoming planning developments were heard at Tuesday's Tamworth Borough Council planning committee meeting, external (October 11).  

Image source, Tamworth Herald