Another let-off for Derby - this time Daniel Ayala failing to get a feather on Grant Leadbitter's deep free-kick, which would surely have taken the ball past Lee Grant. The keeper punches clear and Adam Clayton flashes the follow-up wide.

BBC Radio 5 live

Aston Villa chief executive Tom Fox said the club is targeting a regular challenge for European football within three years. But John Hartson, the former Wales, Arsenal, West Ham and Celtic striker, doesn't think that's viable.

"I think they need some players to do that," he said. "I think they're okay - they have more than the bottom three or four but not enough to push the top six or seven."

Boro are piling forward now and Patrick Bamford drives a shot into the midriff of Lee Grant. A second goal now and it looks like curtains for the Rams this afternoon.

Image source, West Ham

West Ham have been tweeting some images, external from inside the away dressing room at Sunderland today and it now seems players even have their boxer shorts provided. What is more, they get them numbered.

Stewart Downing in this instance wears a black number. I wonder if the club buy them the standard pair we all seem to get for Christmas?

Adam Reach continues to boss the left flank for Middlesbrough and he drives in a low ball which almost picks out Patrick Bamford. The Rams survive again.

It's about that time in the afternoon when fans begin to kill time before the 3pm kick-offs by looking round the club shops. Any festive gifts caught your eye? What's the strangest thing you've seen? I imagine there's a Sergio Aguero bauble knocking around in Manchester City's. Purely a guess, of course.

Derby are playing a dangerous game as they stroke the ball about across the box, are pressed, panic and concede a corner. It's whipped in by Boro captain Grant Leadbitter but Lee Grant collects the high ball confidently.

Steve Harper
Hull City goalkeeper at Riverside Stadium for 5 live Sport

"Those changes by Steve McClaren are spot on. The aim will be to give Derby more width and to stretch Middlesbrough."

Stavros Makrozachopo: Very wrong attitude by Derby. They expect Boro to step aside and just hand them the victory. No fight, no urgency.

RickyBobby: Kranky Karanka in the stands and still we play good football.

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Time for Derby to show us why they belong at the summit of the Championship...

They bring on Leon Best and Jordon Ibe for the second half.

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville
Football Focus

"I think Alan Pardew deserves a lot of credit. From where he was to where he is now, I think he has handled it impeccably."

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown
Football Focus

"Moussa Sissoko is not available for Newcastle and Steven Taylor is also out. If they are to get a result the goalkeeper Jak Alnwick will have to do a magnificent job away to Arsenal. Whatever happens, Alan Pardew deserves a lot of credit. It is amazing what he has achieved there this season."

BBC Radio 5 live

BBC Radio 5 live begins its coverage of Saturday's football programme with commentary from Leicester City, where the Foxes take on Premier League champions Manchester City at 15:00 GMT. There will also be updates from around the grounds as the goals go in.

For a round-up of all the results and reaction there's Sports Report at 17:00, and later this evening you can have your say on the big football stories on 606 with Robie Savage and Caroline Barker, from 18:06.

John Motson
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Surely few people would disagree that the season has not gone to plan for either of these clubs so far?

"The West Midlands rivals and founder members of the Football League are not exactly tapping into their glorious histories at present.

"For West Brom, a run of one point from five matches, one win in nine and the joint worst home record in the Premier League has left them one point above the relegation zone.

"Aston Villa's position may look rather more positive in the wake of back-to-back wins but their recent revival after six straight defeats has coincided with a run of fixtures against some of the division's less fashionable sides."

Simon Brotherton
Match of the Day commentator

"Andy Carroll might have been getting carried away the other day when he said of West Ham: "I think there's no limit, we can go all the way to the top," but it will be interesting to see if they can remain genuine top-four contenders as the season unfolds.

"Confidence is sky high at the moment and will have been reinforced by the nature of last week's 3-1 victory over Swansea, in which they came from behind with Carroll scoring his first two goals of the season.

"Sunderland's record in winning only two games so far doesn't look quite so bad when you realise they have also only been beaten four times.

"But nine draws from 15 games leaves them just a couple of points above the relegation zone, with Gus Poyet acknowledging "it's about winning now".

Steve Bower
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"A victory for either club in this match would be the perfect pre-Christmas shot in the arm.

"After just one point from the last 12, it would provide the chance for Southampton to begin another run of consistency. In Burnley's case, it would be an immediate response to defeat at Queens Park Rangers as they slowly begin to find their feet in the top flight.

"If Burnley are to defy the odds and survive, then their form at Turf Moor will be pivotal. After one win in eight attempts, if they could beat Ronald Koeman's team it would be a further injection of self-belief and confidence ahead of games against Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester City.

"They may feel it's a better time to be facing Southampton, but anyone who saw the Saints lose on Monday to Manchester United will know there was little wrong with the performance, and they were also unlucky at Arsenal."

Jonathan Pearce
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"What a hullabaloo over Chelsea's defeat at Newcastle. Five points dropped in three games sparked tales of collapse and woe, of Manchester City now being title favourites, of Jose Mourinho's league leaders coming down just as the Christmas lights were going up.

"The way the Blues bounced back against Sporting Lisbon in the week suggests they have got their North East setbacks out of their system, and Hull could face the music.

"I can't imagine anyone was ringing alarm bells at Cobham HQ over the last week, but I can understand why distress flares are being launched by some Hull fans.

"Since they beat Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-final, the Tigers have won just two league games in 20. Fourteen points from a possible 60 is clear relegation form."