Burnley win a corner as they race upfield through Manuel Benson.

It's sent into the box and Taylor Harwood-Bellis works onto a loose ball and sends the first shot of this game in, but it's palmed away by Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson and then rebounds out.

Sunderland being forced to defend here.

We're back under way.

Sunderland are the first to make their move and try and catch Burnley on the counter, but Taylor Harwood-Bellis is wise to their intentions and ensure the ball goes out for a goal kick to the hosts.

We now have a break in play in tonight's game at Turf Moor to allow players who are observing Ramadan a chance to take in some food and liquids.

It's been a high energy start so far, but little in the way of attacking action.

Image source, Rex Features

Yikes.

Luke O'Nien goes in on Ian Maatsen's ankle in a rash tackle from behind as Burnley go on the attack.

Referee Jarred Gillett bizarrely just gives the Sunderland man a talking to but really that ought to be a yellow card.

Paul Weller
Former Burnley midfielder on BBC Radio Lancashire

To be fair to Sunderland, they've been very good, their shape is spot on and they're making it very difficult for Burnley.

Burnley are being too patient, for me. They're keeping the ball a little too much. But sometimes they're playing into Sunderland's hands too much.

Almost a quarter of an hour gone and we're yet to have a shot registered from either side.

Not exactly a high quality game so far.

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley are dominating the possession but they are looking wasteful at the back.

Ian Maatsen loses the ball in a dangerous area but keeper Ari Muric manages to rescue the Clarets before Sunderland by clearing the ball away just in time.

Burnley keeper Ari Muric almost plays his team-mates into trouble with a wayward short pass.

But fortunately for the hosts, Sunderland couldn't pounce on it before they clear their lines.

It's all Burnley so far, but it's not exactly been the most entertaining opening 10 minutes.

Burnley look to play their free-kick short and lift the ball into the Sunderland box but there's too much weight on the end result and the visitors win back possession.

Soon after the restart, Anass Zaroury cynically brings down Lynden Gooch and the Black Cats win a free-kick of their own.

Burnley play it out from the back and have a pretty remarkable amount of time on the ball with Sunderland content to not even try and close them down.

This is despite the hosts being deep in their own half. They eventually work the ball onto the edge of the Sunderland box and Anass Zaroury draws a foul and wins a free-kick.

Burnley are dominating the early possession at Turf Moor and rolling crosses about with relative ease.

There's a sarcastic cheer that goes up as they finally lose possession to Sunderland.

There are also a couple of games going on in League Two tonight.

Promotion chasing Stockport took the lead against local rivals Salford after just six minutes through Connor Evans.

Harrogate, who are looking to pull further clear of the drop zone, are also a goal up at mid-table Tranmere. Luke Armstrong's fourth-minute goal is the difference at Prenton Park.

The floodlights are on and we're under way at Turf Moor.

Burnley get us going.

Here's how the teams line up this evening.

Burnley make five changes from their 6-0 humbling by Manchester City in the FA Cup almost two weeks ago.

Sunderland, meanwhile, make three changes to their line up with Pierre Ekwah, Alex Pritchard and Lynden Gooch coming in.

Burnley: Muric, Roberts, Beyer, Harwood-Bellis, Maatsen, Cullen, Brownhill, Benson, Tella, Zaroury, Barnes.

Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Ekdal, Vitinho, Cork, Gudmundsson, Twine, Obafemi.

Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, O'Nein, Batth, Gooch, Neil, Ekwah, Roberts, Pritchard, Clarke, Gelhardt.

Subs: Bass, Amad Diallo, Lihadji, Ba, Anderson, Michut, Cirkin.

Glen Little
Former Burnley winger on BBC Radio Lancashire

Burnley have been unbelievable this season.

So much has changed from the Sean Dyche squad of last year with Vincent Kompany introducing more than 20 players, from a range of countries that they'd never been shopping in before. The impact that some of them have made has been almost instant and astute loan signings like top scorer Nathan Tella, from Southampton, have also helped.

The club really has been transformed with the changes that Kompany has made and the style of play he has introduced. Neutrals are now commenting just how good it is to watch Burnley play.

They've lost only twice all season, they've scored more and conceded fewer than any other team in the Championship and the aim now will be to add to the young squad they have, to make sure that they return to the top flight and stay there.

BBC local radio

Unfortunately we cannot bring you live radio commentary of tonight's games on this page.

But if you have a radio handy, and you're in the relevant catchment area, the fine folks in BBC local radio are available to take you through the action.

BBC Radio Lancashire and BBC Newcastle are setup at Turf Moor to give you full radio commentary of tonight's game.

But rest assured, I'll still be taking you through stuff through the medium of text.

Burnley are a whopping 16 points clear of third place at the top of the table coming into tonight's game against Sunderland.

Tonight's game is a game in hand, too, however they were absolutely thumped 6-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup before the international break.

Remarkably, the Clarets have lost just twice in the league this season and just four times under Vincent Kompany.

Sunderland will have their work cut out if they are to get anything out of tonight's trip. Burnley haven't lost at home this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland haven't come through this month's international break unscathed.

Costa Rica international Jewison Bennette dislocated his shoulder in training with his country and will miss the rest of the season.

The Black Cats will also be without Dan Ballard for two to three weeks after he picked up a hamstring injury in Northern Ireland's 1-0 Euro 2024 qualifier defeat by Finland.

Image source, Rex Features

Burnley have 83 points heading into their final nine games of the season and need another 17 more to crack 100 points.

Should they achieve that feat, they will become the first side to break the century mark since Leicester City in 2013-14.

For a look at how good they have been this season, as well as all the other stories as the Championship returns, click here.

Image source, Getty Images

The clocks have turned. The international break is over. The tail end of the season is well under way.

Runaway Championship leaders Burnley look to continue their stunning form as they carry on their charge to return to the Premier League.

Sunderland's pursuit of the play-offs sees them travel to a Burnley side with a huge lead at the top of the league.

Kick-off is coming soon.