It's sunny. 

This is huge. 

Newcastle get the match under way.

Image source, Reuters

Guy Mowbray
BBC Match of the Day commentator at St James' Park

"When do 'must win' games become 'MUST WIN' games? It's surely now for Newcastle. Sorry, NOW.

"We'll know in our gut if they have any chance of staying up after this, the first of four home games remaining.

"If they can't raise a response to last week's abject display at Southampton in front of their own crowd against a Swansea side in 'virtual safety', then they're gone - never mind the Norwich-Sunderland score.

"Swansea historically do well on Tyneside - winning their last three and unbeaten in the Premier League - and with Francesco Guidolin keen to bag a new contract, he'll demand his team keep pushing up the table to the end.

"When he got the job, Swansea were below Newcastle. Fact."

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Swans boss Francesco Guidolin - like every other manager over the past few weeks - says that he is perplexed as to why Newcastle are in the position they are in.

"I have seen many things in my job over 41 years and nothing could surprise me any more," said the Italian who sparred with counterpart Rafa Benitez when they were both managing in Italy.

The players are walking out on to the pitch. Swans assistant Alan Curtis shakes the hand of each of his men as they make their way.

Mark Lawrenson
Former Liverpool defender on Football Focus

"Newcastle just don’t look like winning a game, last week at Southampton,  they were abject. The players are just not good enough, the goals they conceded were frightening. I don't see Rafa managing in the Championship."  

They've got a finely tanned-man singing the Blaydon Races on the St James' Park pitch. The fans were certainly not roused.

Image source, Rex Features

Yes, your team has underwhelmed, yes, they've lost eight in 10 and yes, they look set to be floored by a relegation right hook, but...

"It is not time to complain and blame anyone, it is time to stick together," says manager Rafael Benitez.

"If they stay behind the team, the team will be stronger. 

"What do you think of as a Newcastle fan? For the team to stay in the Premier League. After? You can blame anyone. At the moment, all our energy has to be positive towards the players. All our energy is on them."

The team perhaps need to give the fans something to cheer about.

It's finished Norwich 0-3 Sunderland.

Here's how the bottom of the Premier League looks:

Image source, Opta

Newcastle pair Jonjo Shelvey and striker Aleksandar Mitrovic drop to the bench, as the Magpies make five changes from the XI that started in the 3-1 defeat by Southampton.

Papiss Cisse starts in attack with Cheick Tiote and Jack Colback, who is back from suspension, in midfield. Paul Dummett and Jamaal Lascelles begin in defence.

Image source, .

Swansea head coach Francesco Guidolin names an unchanged team from last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Chelsea.  

Image source, .

It's now Norwich 0-3 Sunderland. 

Image source, x

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez is 56 today, and what better way to kick off this day of celebration than by leading his relegation-threatened side in a pretty much "win or bust" match.

NE rivals Sunderland have done the Magpies a massive favour today with what looks like a victory at the Canaries - so a win over Swansea would see Benitez's side move to within three points of safety.

Some had predicted that the Swans would be among the strugglers having hovered around 18th during the time of Garry Monk's sacking in December.

But a combination of caretaker boss/assistant Alan Curtis, who is also celebrating his b'day, and manager Francesco Guidolin have helped them reach the giddy heights of 13th.

The Welsh side have won the last three at St James', and coupled with the Magpies' form this appears an away banker.

Team news and live text of the match is coming right up.

And you can follow the build-up to all of today's Premier League matches here.