Sunderland continue to look menacing and win yet another free-kick in the final third - this time Ronan Curtis brings down Luke O'Nien.

Surely Pompey can't keep giving Grant Leadbitter chances to cross into the box?

Curtis is booked for Portsmouth.

Adam Williams
BBC Sport at Wembley

Sunderland have really grown into this in the middle part of this half.

Aiden McGeady looking dangerous for the Mackems with the ball at his feet while Celtic loanee Lewis Morgan is also not afraid to cut inside from both the left and right.

Ronan Curtis yet to really impose himself on the game for Pompey, who seem content to try and force something on the counter.

Image source, PA

John Shaw: Is the largest football crowd of the weekend in the UK/Europe/World between the two third-tier sides today? If not it must be close. Well done (and that's from a Saints supporter!)

You're on the right lines, John - we touched on this earlier (see 14:03 BST). We think this attendance may only be beaten by Barcelona v Espanyol this weekend - that game drew in a crowd of 92,795!

Pompey clear two corners but the ball keeps coming back at them.

Sunderland are beginning to assert their dominance on this final, without yet creating a chance of real note.

He's off again - twinkle toes Aiden McGeady skips past Nathan Thompson and is then cynically brought down by Pompey's Tom Naylor.

Grant Leadbitter whips in the free-kick and it comes off a blue shirt for a Sunderland corner.

An effort from both sides - Sunderland's Lewis Morgan has a long-range strike caught by Craig MacGillivray, while at the other end Ronan Curtis' shot is off-target.

Neither side afraid to have a go, at least.

Image source, Rex Features

Neither side has shown their true quality yet, which tends to be the norm in the early stages of a cup final.

Pompey enjoying a bit of possession but Sunderland sitting in their shape and looking disciplined.

We've come through the fast-paced first 20 minutes and things are calming down just a tad.

Chris Wise
BBC Radio 5 Live at Wembley

Portsmouth’s team slightly resembles that of a hospital waiting room.

Republic of Ireland international Ronan Curtis is playing for the first time today since he nearly lost his finger after shutting it in his own front door.

Towering centre-half Matt Clarke is sporting a tightly wrapped black headband after a nasty head injury a few weeks back.

Neither team particularly close to inflicting pain on the other so far.

That was more like it from Lewis Morgan!

He takes the ball on his less favoured right foot and has a swing - it deflects off a Pompey man onto the top of the net for a corner.

Sunderland can't make much of the set-piece, but it's a warning sign and they're shading the opening stages here.

Lee Brown floats the free-kick in but no-one is able to get firm contact on it and Sunderland keeper Jon McLaughlin is able to gather the ball.

Not an awful lot in this for now, as Lewis Morgan skews one wide for Sunderland.

Image source, Getty Images

Aiden McGeady may turn 33 on Thursday but the playmaker is still a classy operator for Sunderland.

The ball sticks to his feet as he twists and turns but on this occasion Portsmouth give him no room and manage to dispossess him.

Pompey then break through Omar Bogle - his pace and strength win a free-kick in a dangerous crossing position...

Adam Williams
BBC Sport at Wembley

Electric start to this one with both sides looking to use their pace down the wings.

Lewis Morgan for Sunderland and Jamal Lowe for Portsmouth already looking to whip in crosses from their respective right flanks.

I hope they can keep this tempo up.

Sunderland keeping some good possession in the Pompey half.

Experienced heads Grant Leadbitter and Aiden McGeady are bound to be a calming influence on the rest of the side.

The Sunderland fans now rise for a minute's applause in memory of Bradley Lowery, with Pompey supporters joining them.

Image source, Getty Images

In how many countries would two third-tier sides sell 40,000 tickets EACH for a match? Football is a special game.

Back to the action - both sides are clearly full of adrenaline, and the tempo is high.

Jamal Lowe gets down the right for Pompey but his cross is easily gathered by Jon McLaughlin.

Sunderland have come out with real purpose.

Captain George Honeyman fizzes in a cross and Will Grigg almost gets on the end of it.

It's cleared for a corner but Pompey clear.

We're off and running bang on time in the Checkatrade Trophy final at Wembley.

Portsmouth in their traditional blue shirts and white shorts, and Sunderland in their famous red and white stripes - just how we like it.

The atmosphere, by the way, seems to have gone up yet another notch.

That's probably the only time both sets of fans will be singing along together this afternoon.

I cannot stress enough how loud it sounds at Wembley - these massive clubs are certainly embracing the competition today.

All stand for the national anthem.

Emily Haig is the voice behind the microphone this afternoon - feel those goosebumps.

Adam Williams
BBC Sport at Wembley

Superb noise from both sets of fans inside this stadium as the teams were read out a few moments ago.

Portsmouth fans each have a blue and white flag that's been left for them on their seats to wave with pride while there are no shortage of red and white striped scarves being unfurled by Sunderland supporters.

The players are out of the tunnel and we're almost ready to go.

Image source, BBC Sport

Portsmouth and Sunderland are third and fourth in League One respectively, separated by just a point with automatic promotion still very much in both of their sights.

Sunderland have two games in hand on their opponents in the league but Pompey have the better of this season's head-to-head, winning 3-1 at Fratton Park in December.