Kevin Kilbane
Ex-Everton winger on BBC Radio 5 live

"Sunderland started the game in the same way they started Saturday against Chelsea. Everton are trying to keep the ball, Sunderland are putting them under pressure, but there is not much quality on the pitch."

The game hasn't settled yet. No surprise with what is at stake for the home side, who are charging round looking to capitalise on the early enthusiasm of their fans and any nervousness in the Everton players. The away side threaten as Gareth Barry crosses into the box but Matthew Pennington's header drifts wide.

Vito Mannone looks to try and hit Jermain Defoe with a huge kick forward but the striker moved too soon and is caught offside. Nice idea, though.

Everton look to drain the early home momentum with a period of possession before Lee Cattermole dives in recklessly on Ross Barkley to try and win the ball. He is lucky to get away with that. Could easily have been a yellow.

Every tackle, every header, every sign of effort from a Sunderland player is greeted with an almighty roar. An early home goal here will blow the roof off this place.

High pressing right from the off from Sunderland. Wahbi Khazri charges forward to close down Matthew Pennington and force a throw-in.

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The Sunderland fans are in fine voice. They believe. We are under way.

Here come the teams. Massive 90 minutes coming up. Will the relegation battle be settled this evening? Sunderland hope so. Newcastle and Norwich desperately hope Everton can do them a massive favour.

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As part of tonight's narrative, we have a tale of two strikers: Jermain Defoe and Romelu Lukaku.

For Defoe it is the best of times - he has scored five in his last eight games as part of an 18-goal haul for the season. Without his goals this season, Sunderland would be 14 points worse off and already down.

For Lukaku it is the worst of times - the Belgian is without a goal in eight matches, upsetting his club manager and many a fantasy football gaffer in the process. Prior to that he had netted 25 this season.

Fair play to Danny Rose, who has travelled up from London to watch former side Sunderland tonight...

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As for Everton, well, what can you say? Things have gotten real ugly, real fast for Roberto Martinez. In fact, he's in danger of being renamed Sacky McSackface (have a look at our main live for more info).

Courtesy of one win in nine games in all competitions, the Toffees are lurching, milky-eyed and brain-dead towards the end of the season like an extra from the Walking Dead.

Granted, it was somewhat unique circumstances, but they might as well not have turned up for their last game at Leicester. 

I don't think Bobby can avoid getting a mauling from the home fans during the final game at Goodison Park against Norwich, but another total surrender tonight won't help matters.

BBC Radio 5 Live

If you want to follow this via your ears as well as your eyes, you can do so through BBC Radio 5 live. Mark Pougatch has been on air since 19:00 BST and he will be heading off around the country to tonight's three matches as any significant action happens.

Conor McNamara and Kevin Kilbane are at the Stadium of Light.

You can listen in by clicking on the coverage tab at the top of this page.

Take a bow, Gaz Barry...

Unsurprisingly, Sam Allardyce goes for an unchanged team, sticking with the side that came back to beat Chelsea 3-2.

Sunderland XI: Mannone, Yedlin, Van Aarnholt, Kaboul, Kone, Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M’Vila, Borini, Khazri, Defoe.

Subs: Pickford, Jones, Larsson, Rodwell, N’Doye, O’Shea, Watmore.

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Ramiro Funes Mori returns for Everton following a three-game ban. He replaces Bryan Oviedo. Kevin Mirallas is rewarded with a recall following his superb goal at Leicester, as Oumar Niasse drops to the bench. The other change for the visitors sees the now fit Gareth Barry come in for Aaron Lennon.

Everton XI: Robles, Baines, Funes Mori, Stones, Pennington, Barry, McCarthy, Cleverley, Barkley, Mirallas, Lukaku.

Subs: Howard, Gibson, Oviedo, Lennon, Niasse, Besic, Osman.

Image source, .

Image source, Getty Images

For Newcastle fans, the potential ramifications of tonight are unthinkable. For Sunderland supporters, they could be unforgettable.

If the Black Cats beat Everton tonight they are safe from relegation and - AND - Newcastle, their north-east rivals, the team they love to hate the most, will be sent packing to the Championship.

It's like getting a promotion at work and finding out that they sacked that Steve bloke in accounts, that you hate, to make room. Hmm, Steve.

As fire and safety officer Ernest Moss says, "safety first, fun last". You can bet that Sam Allardyce (very much a handyman for all seasons) has his troops focused on one thing and one thing only - and it doesn't have anything to do with points scoring against the old enemy (who he just happens to have a bit of rough personal history with).

Of course, once the job is done (if the job is done). I'm sure the Black Cats support won't be backwards in coming forwards across offices in the north east of England.

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Three birds. One stone.

Tonight, Sunderland have been presented with a rare opportunity - an all-encompassing single lob of a rock that will not only kill the relegation vulture that has been circling them but also take out that pesky magpie and canary along with it.