Alistair Mann
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Games at the Stadium of Light have given home supporters little to cheer. They've witnessed just one league win all season, the worst record in the division, and with the next three visitors being Burnley, QPR and West Brom, Black Cats season ticket holders will be demanding an improvement.

"Burnley will once again arrive without anything like that level of pressured expectation. They have also had a full two weeks to rejuvenate aching limbs and to rid themselves of the disappointment of succumbing to Crystal Palace last time out.

"Only goal difference separates the two sides, while only a point keeps the pair above the drop zone. It all suggests a nervy and largely unpredictable afternoon - nothing new then for those loyal Sunderland regulars."

Brentford are fighting back against Middlesbrough with Jota forcing a save and Stuart Dallas sending a volley back across goal just over the bar. But it is the visitors who should have scored to extend their 1-0 lead, with Albert Adomah stabbing the ball over the bar from a low cross when it looked easier to score.

We are back under way in the Yorkshire derby between Huddersfield and Leeds, with the score level at 1-1.

Former England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at KC Stadium

"Bizarrely, as the players just walked off the pitch, Ahmed Elmohamady has just been giving it to the referee. He must have been saying: 'Hey you cant change your mind.' Clearly the referee can do that, and it doesn't matter how he arrives at the right decision. I don't think the Hull fans have seen it yet, but it really is even clearer than Diego Maradona's handball. Wait until you see it."

Uli Hebel: Ahmed El-Maradona?

David Blayney: Is this the end for Bruce today if Hull lose?

At0micandy: Hull seem to be doing that same as what happened when Bruce was in charge at Birmingham City...

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Image source, BBCSport

Is that deliberate handball the silliest thing Ahmed Elmohamady has ever done? Or does that remain the body-popping dance the Egyptian performed for the camera when Hull won promotion to the Premier League in May 2013?

Hull had more of the ball in that half but only managed five shots on goal, in comparison to Newcastle's 10 efforts. You can see where the problems are for the Tigers.

Jonathan Pearce
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Just two defeats in their last 10 matches would point to a pretty solid outfit that will stay up with ease. They might even notch up a highest top-flight finish since they were fifth 40 years ago.

"But it still wouldn't surprise me to see a Crouch goal settle this against the team he supported as a boy. I've seen QPR wilt away too often to have any confidence in their ability to keep a clean sheet.

"My concern for them is immediate. Unless they start winning away, they'll go down. Only one top-flight side has ever stayed up after losing their first 10 away matches - Sunderland 50 years ago."

Guy Mowbray
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Manchester United sit fourth and are ready to fight for a return to the Champions League, whilst Leicester remain bottom and will have to scrap hard to avoid a return to the Championship - yet it's Foxes fans who appear to have more reasons to be cheerful right now.

"They've seen their side win three of their last four games and four of the last six in all competitions, with the FA Cup helping to boost those stats and confidence with two victories over fellow Premier League teams.

"Manchester United's failure to score against - or unduly trouble - League Two side Cambridge United in the FA Cup last weekend caused much grumbling amongst their support, and led many to re-assess the team's rate of progress under Louis van Gaal.

"Statistics don't lie - but they can distort reality (if that's not the same thing!), and the general view seems to be that United haven't been as good as only two defeats in 17 league games since losing at Leicester would suggest."

Simon Brotherton
Match of the Day commentator

"Liverpool fans will look forward to the prospect of welcoming back Daniel Sturridge with open arms after his lengthy absence because of injury. It's almost five months since he last played and it sounds as though we may see him at some point on Saturday.

"West Ham's tally of 36 points from 22 games is a far cry from last season's struggles and constitutes their strongest campaign so far in the Premier League. They travel to Liverpool after beating Hull and Bristol City without conceding in their last two outings, hoping to turn the club's wretched record at Anfield on its head.

"They're without a win there in the league for over 50 years and have only ever won three times in 56 league visits.

"Rarely will they have travelled with a better chance of a decent result than this season, but Liverpool are unbeaten in six in the league and have not lost at home since the Chelsea game in early November."

Steve Bower
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"The contrast in current fortunes for these two clubs couldn't be greater. When Alan Pardew led Newcastle to victory over Everton in his last game in charge, Crystal Palace were in the bottom three, six places and five points behind Saturday's opponents.

"Everton haven't won since, while Palace have won all four league and cup matches under their new manager. They meet this weekend level on points in the table.

"Suddenly there is a completely different feel about Palace. Pardew is back home - and he looks at home. He appears reinvigorated and at ease, and his new team have certainly responded.

"After the top-five finish last season, expectation - rightly or wrongly - was always going to be raised at Everton, but they couldn't have envisaged their current predicament."

Hull fans greet the half-time whistle with jeers towards referee Phil Dowd. Once they see the replays, even the most biased spectators would have to admit that was handball. Hull need more life in attack.

Former England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at KC Stadium

"There was definitely a hand up but at first I wasn't sure who it was. On the replay, you can see there was a clear hand ball from Ahmed Elmohamady. Pretty much Diego Maradona-style. It was way above his head, but at first the referee didn't see it."

Image source, Getty Images

That is ridiculous. Hull's Ahmed Elmohamady punches the ball into the net with his fist from Andrew Robertson's cross. He has the audacity to wheel away in celebration but the linesman's flag is raised and the goal is chalked off. Why didn't he just head it?

Former England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at KC Stadium

"Now Steve Bruce definitely has to make some sort of change up front at half-time. Hull are really lacking a spark up front, and there are players like Sone Aluko and Tom Ince on the bench. Gaston Ramirez started brightly but has since gone quiet. You can tell they are in the bottom three. They need somebody out there to take control. Also the weather now is horrendous. It's blowing a gale, and whether it is sleet or snow, it is horrible."

Image source, Getty Images

Referee Phil Dowd gets a particularly prominent place in today's matchday programme - he refereed the FA Cup fourth round fixture between these same two sides at St James' Park six years ago this month.

A feisty clash, Dowd sent boss Hull boss Phil Brown and a disgusted-looking Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear to the stands after the pair clashed on the sidelines. A late Daniel Cousin winner sent the Tigers through.

It is starting to sleet at the KC Stadium. Sums up the mood of the home fans...

Rob Porter: If ever a game needed a goal...

Matt Blazey: Everywhere you go, always take Cabella with you!

Cameron Laws: Finally, Cabella! So strange to see a player with so much skill getting so few goals...

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Huddersfield Town's Sean Scannell has wasted a great chance to give the hosts the lead in their derby clash with Leeds just before the break. The midfielder turned his defender in the box but shot wide.

We are back underway at Griffin Park, where Middlesbrough lead Brentford 1-0 and Jelle Vossen's glancing header from a corner is inches away from dropping in at the far post and doubling the lead.

Former England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at KC Stadium

Image source, Reuters

"A fantastic strike from Remy Cabella, low and hard, bending into the corner of the net. Allan McGregor had no chance, but it was poor defending from Hull too. They had chances to clear the ball, but gave it straight to Cabella. The Newcastle fans are delirious, while John Carver, on the touchline, looks very calm."

Image source, AFP

Terrible defending from Hull's Andrew Robertson. He dallies on the ball on the edge of the area and is dispossessed by Remy Cabella. The Frenchman drives towards the penalty area before shooting low into the net from 20 yards for his first Newcastle goal. Huge moment for the Toon Army.