Sunderland centre-backs Lamine Kone and Papy Djilobodji have been absolutely dominant. They have fallen on a solid partnership.

If they can keep the two together this season, the Black Cats will be fine and won't have to worry about a relegation scrap.

Southampton striker Charlie Austin has hardly had a sniff.

Image source, Reuters

Sunderland's Patrick van Aanholt looks OK and hobbles back on. He should be fine to continue through to half time, which is five minutes away.

Postpublished at 39 mins

39 mins

Southampton 0-0 Sunderland

Not another injury for Sunderland, is it?

Full-back Patrick van Aanholt is down after landing awkwardly in trying to block Cedric's shot.

He is receiving treatment from the physio.

Another save from Jordan Pickford, who has grown well into this game,

It is one he should be saving, as Southampton full-back Cedric's low left-footed drive from the edge of the box is straight down his midriff. Easy peasy.

Adnan Januzaj's free-kick into the box is headed wide by Sunderland midfielder Jack Rodwell.

Januzaj finally beats the first defender from a cross. Do we get any Fantasy Football points for that?

Former Liverpool team-mates Fabio Borini and Javier Manquillo have a good understanding down the right for Sunderland.

The two exchange passes before the full-back finds Jermain Defoe in the box, but the ex-Spurs striker cannot control the ball and Fraser Forster can collect.

The Black Cats are well in this game and should really be ahead.

No nonsense from referee Lee Mason today, but his was the scene before kick-off at St Mary's.

Erm...anyway, Jermain Defoe chases down Fabio Borini's pass but none of his flock can get on the end of his pull back into the box.

Image source, PA

Nathan Redmond into the book for giving the referee too much chat.

New regulations fully being enforced by Lee Mason, no messing around.

Sunderland's American midfielder Lynden Gooch, the last Gooch I have heard of since England cricketer Graham, had a decent game against Middlesbrough last time out and is having a decent game today.

He earns a corner which causes confusion inside the box and Southampton fully fail to clear.

It is played back into the far post towards Lamine Kone, who heads wide from six-yards out when he should really have buried it.

Not seen much of Sunderland's Adnan Januzaj. The on-loan Manchester United man has not has any of the ball in the opening minutes of this game.

Another left-footer, Dusan Tadic, is starting to pull the strings at the other end of the pitch. The Serb fizzes in a ball onto the edge of the area for Charlie Austin, but the striker's first time pass into the path of Steven Davis is cut out in the nick of time by the returning Lamine Kone.

Image source, Reuters

"Lashes a shot"?

The Sunderland Twitter feed over-egging that one a little bit too much...

Charlie Austin is making his first start of the season...and looks very rusty.

The striker runs on to a brilliant through ball, but his shot from the edge of the area is horribly scuffed and dribbles into the hands of Jordan Pickford.

Would not have counted anyway, the lineman's flag was up.

BBC Newcastle

BBC Radio Newcastle summariser Gary Bennett: "Sunderland just need to get their foot on the ball and take the sting out of the game, because Southampton are building a bit of momentum." 

Image source, Reuters

You can see why Southampton boss Claude Puel is a big fan of Nathan Redmond (So am I). He spoke highly about the summer signing from Norwich in pre-season.

Redmond picks the ball up in the Sunderland half before quickly spinning and running with pace towards the back-tracking Black Cats defence, but just runs out of room as he tries to pull the ball back.

The home fans will be wanting more of that.

A nice, confidence-booster for Sunderland stopper Jordan Pickford.

The stand-in goalkeeper makes an excellent save low to his drive from Charlie Austin's old-fashiond toe poke from outside the area.

It was creeping in, but for Pickford's intervention.

Another hairy moment for Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who cannot cleanly gather a low cross into the box. There is no damage done though.

Seconds later, Dusan Tadics fires a left-footed striker narrowly over the crossbar with Pickford at full stretch.

Southampton show how dangerous they can be on the counter.

It is started off by an excellent Matt Targett tackle on Sunderland full-back Javier Manquillo, but as the ball is quickly played into the opposition area, Dusan Tadic is caught offside.

Wasted.

Image source, Reuters

Not feeling Sunderland's changed kit of all white with light blue stripes.

Of course, they had to play in those colours or there would have been an all-mighty kit clash with Southampton.

No shots to speak of from either side thus far.

The pitch at St Mary's looks like someone has broken in to the stadium overnight and taken a joyride on the lawnmower.

Random lines here and there without any consistent pattern.

Talking both the pitch and play at the moment.

Quite a welcome for Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, making his first start of the season in-place of the injured Vito Mannone.

The England U21 international gets a whack in the ribs from Southampton striker Charlie Austin as the ball comes into the box.

Fouled awarded, but let's see how Pickford's confidence is after that.

Image source, Reuters