And with that it is half-time at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland were 4-0 up at half-time last week, today they're 2-0 down at home.

Southampton are well on the way to just their second league win since Christmas.

Sunderland take a different route of working the ball into the box from a free-kick.

In the end Jermain Defoe's cross is headed away.

From the resulting corner Defoe goes to ground claiming a tug of the shirt from Bertrand but the referee isn't fooled.

Garth Crooks
Former Spurs striker on Final Score

This striker, Manolo Gabbiadini, really has an eye for goal. He reminds me a little bit of Pippo Inzaghi, wiry and a reat threat. It was a good ball in, not a great height, but he gets down and turns it into the net.

Image source, Reuters

Here come Southampton again.

Nathan Redmond takes a shot at goal from the edge of the area but it's blocked into the arms of Vito Mannone.

Sunderland are looking a little ragged right now. Don't forget they can climb out of the relegation zone with a win today.

I've seen a few replays of that goal and I'm not sure whether it comes off Sunderland's Lamine Kone or Southampton's Manolo Gabbiadini.

Both were stretching for the ball but its Gabbiadini who has been credited with his second goal in as many games for the club.

Only one other player has scored in his first two Premier League games for Southampton.

I'll give you five guesses...

Southampton's best chance of the game.

Manolo Gabbiadini beats the offside trap but is forced wide by the onrushing Vito Mannone.

The Italian forward checks back, gets his head up and picks out Cedric Soares on the edge of the area but the full-back fires high and wide.

After Sunderland had the better of the early stages, Southampton are coming into this one now.

Most of their play is coming down the left through Nathan Redmond and Ryan Bertrand.

Billy Jones and Lamine Kone do well to block crosses from the pair.

The Gabbiadini name is one Sunderland fans know well. Marco Gabbiadini scored 87 goals in 183 games for the Wearsiders.

Manolo Gabbiadini - no relation - fails to capitalise on a poor Darron Gibson pass here when his first-time shot sails harmlessly wide.

More good stuff from Sunderland.

Adnan Januzaj, a player of so much promise, dribbles into the area before crossing low towards Jermain Defoe.

Sunderland's leading scorer fails to control the ball though, seven yards out. It's not often we say that.

And after that big build-up it's a really poor free-kick from the Swede, straight into the ankles of the Southampton wall.

The visitors are yet to settle. We haven't seen anything of their new man Manolo Gabbiadini.

This one is Sebastian Larsson territory.

Didier Ndong drives on from midfield before being brought down by Nathan Redmond.

Just right of centre, 25 yards out

Image source, Reuters

The initial free-kick comes to nothing but Sunderland win another corner.

England international Fraser Forster looks shaky dealing with the delivery in the Southampton goal, not getting much purchase on his punch.

The home side are on top so far.

Image source, Reuters

Adnan Januzaj takes the first shot on goal.

His effort from the edge of the area is blocked wide for a corner which results in nothing.

Sunderland win a free-kick in a dangerous position however. Seb Larsson to take...

Image source, Reuters

John O'Shea was a big doubt for this game with a hamstring injury and the centre-back has been called into meaningful action for the first time.

He heads away a dangerous cross from the left before Didier Ndong helps the ball further away.

Both sides are testing each other out early on.

Sunderland have started with the 3-5-2 formation that served them so well at Selhurst Park last week.

The Black Cats have kept two clean sheets in a row, much of that down to Lamine Kone.

He's just booted a wayward pass straight out of play here though.

Image source, Reuters

Referee Paul Tierney blows his whistle. We're under way.

Garth Crooks
Former Spurs striker on Final Score

Last weekend was a game-changer for Sunderland. To blitz Crystal Palace as they did, that trip home on the bus must have been great. 

Perhaps they feel the clouds parting. If they can follow it up with at least a point today, that will keep the momentum.

It is cold and wet up in the North East.

Classic February football weather. There's a hardy soul in just jeans and a short sleeve Sunderland shirt in the crowd. He looks cold.

John O'Shea and Steven Davis lead the teams out. We're moments away from kick-off.

Image source, Reuters