Anthony Patterson needed to be on his toes here. Gus Hamer has had a crack from an incredible angle and distance, trying to catch the keeper out at his near post from the right, only for the keeper to scramble across and make a flying save.

A lightning Black Cats break from a Sheffield United corner almost makes it 2-0.

Dan Neil frees Eli Mayenda who storms forward before switching left for Adil Aouchiche to race into the box, only to drag an angled left-footed effort across the face of goal.

Anthony Patterson nearly went from hero to zero.

The Sunderland keeper opts to turn in his own six-yard box as he tries to deal with a backpass and so nearly has the ball tackled into the net by Rhian Brewster who was flying in to pressure him.

Lucky, lucky man to see the ball squirt out towards his left back.

Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor does well to arch his neck to get a head on Trai Hume's whipped cross from deep on the right but can only steer his effort well past Michael Cooper's near post.

Andy Giddings
Sports Editor, BBC Sheffield

The goalkeepers have definitely been the headline makers in this match so far.

Patrick Roberts sees a shot cannon behind for a Sunderland corner, and keeper Michael Cooper can't prevent another ball spinning behind for a second.

Sunderland are the ones doing the pressing at present...

Kieffer Moore hits the deck under pressure from Dan Neil in midfield. They might have been teammates had Moore's rumoured move to the Stadium of Light earlier this season had come to pass.

As it is he's the one who might have put United ahead tonight.

Adil Aouchiche, the favourite of scrabble lovers everywhere, whips in a fierce curling cross from the Sunderland left which is cleared by a Blades head.

The home side are building up a bit of pressure here, buoyed by that penalty save, no doubt.

Eli Mayenda wants a penalty of his own but went down in instalments in the Blades box under pressure from Sydie Peck and the referee is having none of it.

Andy Giddings
Sports Editor, BBC Sheffield

It was snowing at kick-off but the snow has stopped and the temperature has certainly risen now.

Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

Image source, Rex Features

We have seen it on a replay and it was a blatant push as Kieffer Moore had got in front of him.

He will be kicking himself as he did not kick it with a huge amount of strength, it was not the best penalty, but the keeper still had to make the save.

Kieffer Moore steps up from 12 yards...but his low effort is too close to Anthony Patterson who spreads himself and blocks low to his right before the ball is hacked away.

Sunderland's Patrick Roberts saw a penalty saved by Michael Cooper in the reverse fixture in November.

There's something about this game.

This was a poor penalty, though...

Nick Barnes
BBC Newcastle's Sunderland commentator

He has given a penalty but what on earth has happened there?!

We both thought he had given a free-kick, but he must have pulled Kieffer Moore down. The referee was sharp-eyed there.

Now then... it's a tug on the shirt of Kieffer Moore by Luke O'Nien from a deep free-kick and referee Matt Donohue points to the spot.

Can the visitors take an early lead?

Michael Cooper is into action again, with an almost identical near-post stop to deny Eli Mayenda after he was sprung free on the right of the area by Chris Mepham again.

A couple of decent half-chances for the hosts.

Callum O'Hare is very good at football, but he's totally overhit his pass into the path of the overlapping Alfie Gilchrist, sending the ball out of play.

Gilchrist is barely back on position before Sunderland break and Wilson Isidor is played through on the right of the area to sting the palms of Michael Cooper at his near post with an angled strike.

A rather cagey start to proceedings but Jack Robinson has launched a couple of long throws into the Sunderland area from the left, though the home defence has proved equal to them.

Sunderland defender Chris Mepham gets an early bang on the nose leading to a brief stoppage in play.

He was sent-off when these sides met just over a month ago, though the Blades did pinch a 1-0 win at Bramall Lane.

Will we have as much drama this evening?

Sunderland in their traditional red and white stripes and black shorts, Sheffield United in their, er, bluey/black and mint change strip.

Two grand old clubs taking centre stage on a Bank Holiday evening with plenty at stake.

You have to love this.

Image source, Rex Features