After a poignant tribute to those loves ones lost in 2024, we are under way... what does the final action of New Year's Day have in store?

We've had a spectacular lights show (yes, another one, it's been quite the 24 hours for those) and the players are out of the tunnel.

Ready to Go by Republica blasts around the Stadium of Light.

The main event, the big one, one of the best home teams against one of the best away teams, is moments away... and we are ready to go too...

Image source, PA Media

There are probably plenty of teams Sunderland would rather be welcoming to the Stadium of Light tonight as they seek to bounce back from their galling defeat at Stoke three days ago.

The Black Cats have lost their past five games against Sheffield United, all in the Championship between September 2017 and November, when Tom Davies came off the bench to pinch a dramatic 1-0 win at Bramall Lane.

These two grand old clubs have been going at it since 1893, and today will be their 147th meeting in all competitions, though the Blades are seeking a third straight away win in this fixture for the first time.

The good news for Regis Le Bris’ men is they haven’t lost their opening league game of the year since 2018, taking 10 points from the six games to start January since that 1-0 reverse against Barnsley.

United, by contrast, are winless in five games to kick-off the New Year, taking just two points in total, since a 3-0 win over Wigan in January 2019.

Sunderland have scored 114 league goals in New Year’s Day matches – only Bolton (124 after today's game at Mansfield) and Newcastle (117) have scored more on this date in Football League history.

Can the Black Cats add to their haul tonight?

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder's main headache since Christmas has been caused by the Blades' injury problems.

With skipper Olie Arblaster out with an ACL injury sustained in November, on-loan Harry Souttar saw his season ended early with an Achilles injury picked-up in the Boxing Day defeat to Burnley, which ended United's unbeaten start at Bramall Lane.

Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield he was proud of his team after their 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday because of the injuries ravaging his squad.

"We are so stretched it's unbelievable, and I'm so proud of my team, I thought we were light at the start of the season," he said.

"But I've learned so much about their attitude, especially late on. A few of them have not been well this week, but they left everything out there.

"We were pushing and pushing to get a winner. We were bold, we were brave.

"Andre Brooks was outstanding. He needed to do more Monday to Friday in training - but I was delighted for him to get that goal."

Expect to see Wilder dip into the transfer market now the window is open, especially since the club is under new ownership.

With Leeds and Burnley failing to win this afternoon, the Blades can go level at the top with a win tonight.

Image source, BBC Sport

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris makes two changes from the side that started the 1-0 reverse at Stoke on Sunday. Aji Alese is in for Denis Cirkin at left-back and Patrick Roberts comes in to attacking midfield for Serbian teenager Milan Aleksic.

Sheffield United gaffer Chris Wilder has also made two changes from their team on Sunday. Rhian Brewster and Sam McCallum are in for Harrison Burrows and Andre Brooks, who scored their goal in the 1-1 draw with West Brom.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

Sunderland had only lost one of their past 16 games, prior to Sunday’s dramatic defeat at Stoke.

Head coach Regis Le Bris remained philosophical despite a stoppage-time goal condemning them to defeat at the Bet365, ending a five match unbeaten streak since their 1-0 reverse at Bramall Lane on 29 November.

"[I am] Disappointed but it is a long league and a tough league with many, many games in a short period," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"The most difficult part of the pitch is always the final third. We created many chances I think we had 22 shots and two on the post, three big saves from the goalkeeper. Sometimes football is like that.

"Sometimes you score with one chance and other times you can't score with six, seven, eight or nine big chances.

"But the spirit was good and we have to keep the way we want to play. Sometimes we deserve to win and we don't so no drama."

Will there be drama in tonight’s top of the bill clash, however?

Swansea City

Image source, Rex Features

Swansea head coach Luke Williams said they need to find 'consistency' going forward after a 4-0 defeat at Fratton Park:

"We struggled to get to grips with the conditions and the opposition were excellent.

"It was a very bad day at the office. If we want to be a better team then we have to find a level of consistency.

"The last two performances before this were excellent.

"That's the type of team we want to be week in, week out and that's what we are building towards."

Leeds United

Leeds boss Daniel Farke speaking to BBC Radio Leeds:

Sheffield Wednesday

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Sheffield Wednesday forward Josh Windass made it five goals in five games with a stunning strike from 15 yards inside his own half in their 4-2 win over Derby.

He told BBC Radio Sheffield that he hopes it earns him a nomination for the Fifa Puskas Award, which is given to the best finish in world football in a year, after feeling he was snubbed last year.

"I just looked up and I was initially going to try and outpace the defender but the keeper was too far out and I thought 'he's getting done here'," Windass, who came on as a half-time sub, said.

"I'll be honest, I want my Puskas nomination this year because my Blackburn goal (last season) didn't get one and it should have been.

"I thought that one was better because the technique was harder opening my foot up on a bouncing ball. It was a much harder goal to score."

He added: "I said in pre-season that if I'm fit I don't think there is a better number 10 than me in the division and I still feel that way. Touch wood I've managed to stay fit and I'm firing."

Preston North End

Image source, Getty Images

Preston North-End manager Paul Heckingbottom speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire:

"The goals we conceded were shocking and that's what gave the game away. We gave them three goals. The three goals were terrible. They punished us and defended better than us.

"It's just frustrating. I would have liked West Brom to work harder than that. And I'm certainly going to look at our approach away from home.

"I get so frustrated because they're better than what they're showing but at the minute it seems only I think that. I want to be a good force away from home as well.

"It sounds like I'm hammering the players but I'm not. It's just something I don't want to see happen."

Stoke City

Image source, Rex Features

Stoke City interim manager Ryan Shawcross told BBC Radio Stoke:

“It’s a really pleasing point. In the first half we were slightly passive but went for it in the second half and I felt were the better side.

“Four points from two games, I’m delighted. Burnley are a really good team, Sunderland are a really good team, and to take that amount of points from those two games is brilliant. It just shows what the capabilities of this squad are.

“All we asked from them was enthusiasm, a desire to press, to work hard, and to also show their quality. I've enjoyed these two games.

“For them to put that performance in against another really good team was really pleasing. I thought the application and effort were really good.

“The squad looks in a good place. The new manager will be welcoming a really good squad there that I think can push up the table.”

Burnley

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley boss Scott Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire:

“I think overall, if we’re being honest, we fell a bit short today. We huffed and puffed and just lacked a little something, especially in the top end of the pitch.

“We’re a little bit disappointed with the way it went. We struggled at certain moments in the final third.

“We had real control in terms of possession but no shots on target tells the story of the game for us. We lacked that quality and bit of composure.

“I can’t fault the effort and commitment the players have shown today. We walk out with a point, which is not ideal, but we keep going and keep trying to produce performances.”

West Bromwich Albion

Image source, PA Media

West Brom caretaker manager Chris Brunt speaking to BBC Radio WM: "I enjoyed the result in the end. It is a completely different feeling standing there to anything as a player or staff member.

"We created chances and were 3-0 up at half time. It is a dangerous game because you know they will come out swinging and to be fair, they did. They scored a goal just as we were changing things and it took a while to get to grips with it.

"We defended well even though there were tired legs out there. The recovery time isn't great; it is a hard slog at this time of year. We came out the blocks well and got our lead. Once Preston came back, we had to manage the game but it was important to get a win.

"I don't think you can pick out too many negatives at this time of the year. It is about grinding out results and they did that. It is a team effort; the lads have been great, the coaching staff has worked really hard. I'm not sure about the script; we'll keep plodding along until told otherwise."

Derby County

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Derby County boss Paul Warne speaking to BBC Radio Derby:

“There was a lot of good things. I think we’ve come here, had more of the ball and even had more chances. I think we just let ourselves down in both boxes.

“I didn’t think we started the game as well as we have in recent weeks, and obviously they get the early goal but once we got a grip in midfield I thought we were the team in the ascendency.

“It honestly felt like we could have been 3-1 up at half-time. We hit the post, looked really dangerous off set pieces and even sometimes off the counter attack.

“At half time we changed a few things, I thought this was an opportunity to win a game of football.

“We didn’t take our chances today.

“I’m frustrated with the third goal because I think then the game goes away from you.

“They got behind our line more than anyone, in fairness.

"It felt like whenever we made mistakes today we got punished and to concede one from your own half is pretty unique for any team."

Portsmouth

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Portsmouth boss John Mousinho said: "A brilliant win. Great to get a clean sheet, great to score four goals and the performance backed it up against what I think is a really, really good side.

"Swansea can cause you all sorts of problems and sometimes you do have to ride your luck. At 2-0 we were a bit fortunate not to concede a goal, but at the same time we had plenty of chances in the first half.

"Against Swansea, I think they are the best side in the league for possession, maybe apart from Leeds. They are fantastic the way they dominate the ball, the way they rotate.

"But I thought we dealt with that really well. I think three of the four goals are from the way that we press, then we got the set-piece as well."

Right, time for a bit of reaction to the earlier games before we crack on with third against fourth as Sheffield United visit Sunderland in 20 minutes' time...

Mike White
Commentator on BBC Radio Humberside

Despite holding Middlesbrough into stoppage time, a switch off down the right hand side allowed them through.

City only have themselves to blame, they did not deal with the problem and have been punished.

I do not think we had enough to win it, but if you are not going to win the game then you have got to at least try to not get beat.

Michael Carrick's grimace in this pic has been replaced by a broad smile. His side are back into the top five and they have found a way to win, after three straight draws.

Hull looked like they might pop back above the dotted line at the foot of the table but that Alex Gilbert goal means they remain in the drop zone.

Neil Maddison
Former Middlesbrough midfielder on BBC Tees

Nothing better than a 93rd minute winner when you have been below par all night.

I did not think it was coming, it was jubilation tinged with relief.

However we do have to be a hell of a lot better if we want to progress further this season.

Many a time you dominate, you dictate terms, but you do not make it count, at least we did that tonight.

We were not brilliant tonight, but it did not matter.

What a way to win it... Boro deserved it, but to grab the goal in the 93rd minute is cruel on Hull who defended like, er, Tigers.

Alex Gilbert gets his moment in the sun and Boro are back in the top-five. Hull will remain in the bottom three, having slipped in earlier today due to Portsmouth's win.

What a finish.