A double change by Sam Allardyce as on comes striker Duncan Watmore and forward Jeremain Lens, with Seb Larsson and Steven Fletcher going off. The Black Cats looks to have gone with three up top. Allardyce fancies this.

So close from Bakary Sako! The gangly forward breaks forward from the right and, as Sunderland defenders back off, decides to have a go at goal, sending a dipping effort just wide of the far post.

Another yellow, this time for Jermain Defoe. 

The Sunderland striker isn't happy when he sees Scott Dann move a free-kick a couple of yards forward from where the foul was committed. He stands in front of the ball, preventing Dann from taking it, and referee Martin Atkinson trots over to book him as a result.

Sunderland fans have been giving Yohan Cabaye, the former Newcastle player, a fair bit of stick tonight. 

Image source, PA

...Bakary Sako takes the free-kick but it is an absolute gift for Costel Pantilimon, floated in for the Sunderland keeper to calmly step off his line and claim.

Yellow card for Sunderland's Billy Jones after he flies in on Yannick Bolasie just as the pacey winger looked to escape down the wing. Free-kick to Palace...

A real chance for Sunderland! They win a corner, which is sent into the area and Sebastian Coates rises to meet it, directing the ball down towards the far corner but Yohan Cabaye sticks out a boot to clear off the line. Close.

Image source, Reuters

Crystal Palace are quick out of the blocks as Bakary Sako gets his first touch of the ball, whipping in a powerful cross. Sunderland's three central defenders are wise to it, though, closing in on the ball and clearing before any lurking Palace player can pounce.

Steve Claridge
BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

The stats suggest the goals will come in the next 45 minutes. We shall see.

Second half under way.

 A change for Crystal Palace for the second half. Forward Bakary Sako comes on for Jason Puncheon. He looks likely to move alongside Connor Wickham in attack.

I hope you're not driving and reading at the same time.

Speaking of votes, if you haven't already you can now vote for who you want to be named BBC African Footballer of the Year.

Algeria's Yacine Brahimi, the 2014 winner, is on the shortlist along with Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ghanaian Andre Ayew, Senegal's Sadio Mane and Yaya Toure of Ivory Coast.

Voting closes at 18:00 GMT on 30 November and you can either vote here or by sending an SMS from your phone to +44 7786 20 20 08.

Image source, Getty Images

It's been a tricky match so far for his side, but here's something for Alan Pardew to cheer about. He's won our vote asking who fans would want to be the next England boss - him or Sam Allardyce. Happy days.

Steve Claridge
BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Reuters

And one of the teams playing tonight is involved in this tweet...and could end the day five points off the top.

I said before kick-off that this was either going to be 0-0, or a bit of a goal fest. At the moment, the former is definitely looking the most likely. There's been chances, but half-chances at best. Still, so far so good for Sunderland.

Steve Claridge
BBC Radio 5 Live