More poor service for Sunderland's Jermain Defoe as Seb Larsson over hits one straight into the hands of Allan McGregor. They started well but that's not cutting it.

End-to-end 'oh-so-nearlys'.

It's called back for offside but Nikica Jelavic battles his way into the box after combining with Dame N'Doye and his shot his blocked by the onrushing Costel Pantilimon. Very, very little in that one.

Not really a chance but it should have been. Danny Graham's low cross is curled just too much to meet Jermain Defoe's run into the box. They got their wires crossed there actually - Defoe dropped his man on the penalty spot by stopping his run, and Graham didn't read it.

Image source, Lynne Cameron/PA Wire

Hull are looking well on course for a third consecutive home win here. After a good start to the game Sunderland have faded a little. Jermain Defoe has a shot from the the edge of the box, but it's comfortably wide. Disappointing contact on the ball.

A corner to Hull after more pressure and Tom Huddlestone is the man to take it. He sends it deep and from Michel Dawson's header the ball falls to Paul McShane. It's bouncing but he hits it - it could be - but Jack Rodwell puts his body on the line. Great block.

And Hull are straight back at the away side - they've really been buoyed by that goal. Andrew Robertson has a chance to test Costel Pantillimon cutting in from the left, but his shot is tame and easily gathered. Hull go again.

Image source, Getty Images

With Elmohamady on his feet but off the pitch Tom Huddlestone sends a low ball into the box and Dame N'Doye gets a decisive steer on the ball. First shot on target, first goal. That should liven things up very nicely.

Not much going on here to be honest but Wes Brown goes into the book for a clumsy lunge at Ahmed Elmohamady on the edge of the box. The Hull man's still on the ground, and though Brown got the ball first, the follow through was very nasty.

The referee was right on the spot though. Somebody should probably try and score soon. Nikica Jelavic's wayward shot is still the only attempt on goal. Free-kick to come.

Danny Graham. I remember him coming up at Middlesbrough when they were still in the Premier League. Will he be able to replicate the killer touch he showed at Watford and at Swansea?

Jermain Defoe is looking the livelier of the pair up front for Sunderland tonight though. The former Spurs man is darting along the turf in his own inimitable style.

Nikica Jelavic was played in by a very quickly-taken free-kick there. Clever from Hull, but Sunderland have looked the better side so far. They're looking pretty assured in possession.

Wasteful from Nikica Jelavic. Granted he's been out a while but he had acres of space on the edge of the box there, and his shot flew high and wide of the Sunderland goal. Where was the Black Cats' back-line?

Now it's Michael Dawson with a bit of work to do - he clears a cross from the Sunderland right, just ahead of Jermain Defoe. Ahmed Elmohamady then speeds up the pitch on the break, as Hull enjoy their first spell of possession in the opposition half.

Paul McShane, making his 10th appearance of the season, does a little housekeeping at the back, tidying up a long ball into the channel. He's still going strong.

We are under way at the KC Stadium. I was in Hull not so long ago and I have to say the aquarium is pretty good. I got told off for calling it an aquarium though.

'Submarium' if you were wondering. I wasn't sure if it was actually a word, but apparently it is.

Hull City

Hull manager Steve Bruce: "One thing you cannot do [with injured players] is take a risk, and if we had then Nikica Jelavic and Dame N'Doye could have missed four to six weeks more. They are fresh and raring to go and the last time they came here they both scored, so let's hope they can repeat that. It's a big game. If we can win it, we can go seven points clear of the relegation zone, with 10 games to play."

A normal game Gus? On first glance this one really should be a seven-goal thriller, but with so much at stake it could swing to the totally opposite pole, with the players freezing up. Let's hope for the former.

Sunderland

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet: "We need strength and experience, it's a massive game and we need to compete. The players starting the game are the best ones for that. It is a big game. We were so close to putting together a run of winning games, but we have put ourselves in this situation.

"Now we need to go somewhere to win a few points that we lost at home. "We cannot play thinking about not to lose, because for 45 minutes against Manchester United we were good and then we dropped too much. Always something happens against Hull, so I am looking forward to a normal game."

Image source, Getty Images

Hull boss Steve Bruce has said his team is in "a horrible dogfight" at the bottom of the table, and that was before Saturday's 1-0 defeat away to Stoke - a match in which they managed only one shot at goal. But tonight they are going for what would be a third consecutive home win.

Sunderland, meanwhile, have endured a turbulent beginning to the week, with the club suspending 27-year-old winger Adam Johnson, who was arrested on Monday.

As the club's focus returns to matters on the pitch, and with the team without a win in four matches, there are three very valuable points at stake at the KC Stadium tonight.

As ever we'd love to hear from you tonight. Thoughts on the game? Hopes for the season? Frustration to vent?

Let us know using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter, text us on 81111 (UK only), or get on to the BBC Sport Facebook, external or Google+ page., external

Good evening everyone. Let's get straight into the team news.

Image source, Reuters

Hull bring defender Andrew Robertson and strikers Nikica Jelavic and Dame N'Doye back into the side, with Sone Aluko, Gaston Ramirez and Maynor Figueroa dropping out.

Image source, Reuters

Sunderland midfielder Jack Rodwell returns to the starting line-up for the first time since January, while Ricky Alvarez returns after missing Saturday's game with Manchester United, and Danny Graham starts up front ahead of Connor Wickham. Wes Brown starts after his weekend red card was rescinded.

Hull XI: McGregor, Dawson, Bruce, McShane, Elmohamady, Robertson, Huddlestone, Livermore, Meyler, Jelavic, N'Doye.

Sunderland XI: Pantilimon, Reveillere, Vergini, Brown, O'Shea, Cattermole, Bridcutt, Rodwell, Larsson, Defoe, Graham.