Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith uses his experience and physical presence to shepherd the ball away from Jack Clarke as he poured through to attack.

Smith hit the deck quite theatrically, winning the free-kick. Clarke gives away a bit of bulk so it seemed quite amusing really. Unless you're a Sunderland fan.

Two promising breaks both come to nothing. First a slick move with plenty of support sees Sunderland steam forward. Amad Diallo and Jack Clarke again involved.

It's picked off by Boro who sweep down the left with Ryan Giles, but his deep cross to the far post for Marcus Forss arriving is just too strong.

Free-kick from Sunderland is half-cleared by Middlesbrough who have plenty of bodies in the box.

The loose ball breaks to Amad Diallo, in the centre on the edge of the box, but Chuba Akpom puts his body in the way and it's sufficient to take the sting out of it as it bounces through to Zack Steffen.

Amad Diallo makes another incisive run and is found brilliantly down the left but Middlesbrough recover and smother the chance.

Then, Johnny Howson tries to put a reducer on Jack Clarke who ghosts by and leaves the Yorkshireman in pain as he seemed to injure himself.

Got a booking and gave away a free-kick. Not a good minute for a limping Howson.

Not quite found its rhythm yet this game.

I was anticipating a bit of blood and thunder but there's more of a chess-like measured approach.

Patrick Roberts almost gets in down the right but the tackle is made by Middlesbrough.

Sunderland's Corry Evans has not recovered from his previous injury, and as such Edouard Michut is on.

The Frenchman is a prodigious talent on loan from PSG.

Neil Maddison
Former Middlesbrough midfielder on BBC Tees

I've said it before, you have to take chances. But there, you should take the situation in your own hands, and you launch it 60-70 yards up the field.

You get your shape back and make it difficult for Sunderland to get back at you.

Sunderland blow a golden chance!

Zack Steffen in the Boro goal plays a sloppy pass straight to Sunderland's Amad Diallo on the edge of the box.

He takes a touch and drives at goal but drags it harmlessly wide.

The puff of the cheeks from Steffen is mirrored by the visiting supporters while the home fans are stunned.

Bad miss from a quality player.

First real chance, as defender Darragh Lenihan slaps a low shot at Anthony Patterson in the Sunderland goal. It's a tame effort.

All came from the free-kick from the right which was poor but equally not sufficiently cleared.

Sunderland captain Corry Evans is down, having caught his leg on Riley McGree having clumsily bundled into him.

Stoppage here.

Middlesbrough's McGree was the matchwinner at the Riverside in the return fixture by the way.

Both coaches looking pensive. Evans looks ok.

Ross Stewart almost screams onto a wonderful through-ball by Jack Clarke, but he's just off.

Sunderland trying to get in behind Middlesbrough.

Not too much full-pelt, tackles flying in aggression so far. Quite neat and tidy.

I did say this wasn't the main derby given the home side's hostile relationship with Newcastle down the road, but it is definitely felt here.

Ex-Sunderland defender Darren Williams - from Teesside-way - was saying on BBC Radio Newcastle this week he had his car windows put through after scoring in one of these games.

If that's not indication of the feeling, then what is? (Please, don't go smashing anyone's windows. I had mine put through on Friday and I've certainly never scored a goal in a derby)

Wear-Tees tussle up and running.

Boro have the ball to start with in blue shades, Sunderland in candy-stripe red and white.

Brian Clough, Julio Arca, Grant Leadbitter, even Stewie Downing...

Lots of interlinks between these two clubs.

It's pink slice v parmo. It's Wear v Tees.

It's Sunderland v Middlesbrough, and the teams are out at the Stadium of Light.

Big atmosphere.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough come into this one with seven wins from the last eight in the Championship, revived by Michael Carrick since his mid-season arrival to replace Chris Wilder.

At the heart of their form has been Chuba Akpom's goalscoring, ably assisted by a new-look Matt Crooks in attack.

Sunderland lost for the first time in five against Swansea last weekend, not helped by Luke O'Nien's red card.

Yet, under Tony Mowbray they've become a challenger too, and their goalscoring threat comes from Ross Stewart; the Scot missed the last derby through injury in the warm-up but he's leading the line today.

Which of the penalty area predators will win out on Wearside?

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough were denied a bigger allocation from Sunderland, who were keen to keep their noisy neighbours at a minimum for this encounter.

Wallsend-born Michael Carrick understands what the game means, but with seven wins from eight and promotion a big priority, Carrick doesn't want Boro bogged down in rivalry - too much.

"We could have taken a lot more, but we'll fill our end and give everything we've got," Carrick told BBC Radio Tees.

"These are fantastic games to be a part of, but you pull yourself away from the emotion of it and it's preparing right all week for another game and doing the right things to put a performance together.

"Hopefully the game will go our way."

Image source, Getty Images

The fanaticism of north east football supporters will be a badge worn proudly today at the Stadium of Light as a bumper crowd converges on the old site of the Monkwearmouth colliery to cheer their respective teams.

It's an aspect that boss Tony Mowbray, still a hero of Teesside despite his Sunderland links these days, is keen to tap into.

"I would just urge the fans to be as they are, and be as positive as we are, and that's why I say to the team we have to play forward, to put the ball in the box and be aggressive," Mowbray told BBC Newcastle.

"We have to be an attacking team because it wraps the fans up in the emotion of the game. I've been a footballer and a coach away at stadiums which are 'on-fire' and it's so hard when the emotion is dragging the ball to the goal.

"that's what we need to do, make them feel massive pressure not only the 11 players we're against but the 40,000 cheering on from the sidelines."

West Ham loanee Ali Ajese is included for Sunderland in their starting line-up for the visit of Boro to Wearside.

Middlesbrough make one change with Darragh Lenihan returning to the starting XI.

Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, Batth, Alese, Evans, Neil, Roberts, Diallo, Clarke, Stewart.

Subs: Dajaku, Bass, Ba, Taylor, Bennette, Michut, Wright.

Middlesbrough: Steffen, Smith, Fry, Lenihan, Giles, Howson, Hackney, Forss, Akpom, McGree, Crooks.

Subs: Jones, Archer, Hoppe, McNair, Watmore, Roberts, Bola.

Referee: James Linington (Isle of Wight)

Image source, Getty Images

It might not be THE derby so far as Sunderland fans are concerned but there's still plenty of feeling about when Middlesbrough arrive up the A19.

Throw into the mix that both are battling for promotion and doing pretty well, which adds some spice.

And, triple that with the fact Middlesbrough legend Tony Mowbray will be in the Sunderland dug-out as manager and Wallsend-born Michael Carrick is the Boro boss...

There are plenty of tasty reasons to take in interest in this midday Championship stoush at the Stadium of Light.