Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

Sunderland haven't been at their best but they haven't had to be. You expected Sheffield Wednesday to come out in the second half and have a go.

A double sub from Tony Mowbray.

After his first start in six, Patrick Roberts gets the hook. Expected as he continues his recovery from a serious hamstring injury.

Abdoullah Ba comes on for him with Alex Pritchard replaced by Scrabble fans' favourite Adil Aouchiche.

Image source, Rex Features

Richard: Desperate times for Sheffield Wednesday - our play-off success feels a long time ago now. For the good of the club, rather than go to war with the fans, Chansiri needs to find a way out so the club can rebuild.

Chris in Nottingham: Interesting week for Sheffield in footballing terms. As it stands, Sheffield 0 - Tyne & Wear 11 (eleven).

Nicholas Walker: Would definitely want Spurs to look at the possibility of getting Bellingham in either in January or in the spring.

I'm presuming you mean Jobe, Nicholas, rather than his brother. But I guess both would be nice!

Brian Laws
Ex-Sheff Wed manager on BBC Radio Sheffield

Sunderland just want to win the game. It doesn't look like they are chasing to get a bagful.

It looks like they are just trying to keep possession of the ball and make sure they don't concede, which will mean they win the game.

... for Bambo Diaby. The referee adjudges him to have clipped Patrick Roberts on halfway, he wasn't planning to book him for that but the furious reaction to the free-kick made his mind up. That one is for dissent.

Activity on the Black Cats bench. Fresh legs for Diaby and Wednesday to worry about soon?

Jobe Bellingham is inches away from making it 4-0. Good work from Alex Pritchard and a neat lay-off from Mason Burstow on the edge of the box leaves Bellingham with a sight of goal but his deft curler from 20 yards slides agonisingly past the upright with Devis Vasquez beaten all ends up.

Paterson denied by Patterson.

After a neat break down the right and a deep cross from Pol Valentin, the late-arriving Callum chests the ball down and drills a half-volley goalward, only for Sunderland keeper Anthony to parry the ball away.

Image source, PA Media

Better from Wednesday. The ball is worked across the face of the Sunderland area but Callum Paterson is leaning back slightly as he whips a first-time effort well over the angle of post and bar from 18 yards.

Might have done better there, actually.

Unusual free-kick for Sunderland on the left touchline. A cross-field pass to Callum Paterson is too high but the Wednesday man leaps up and punches the ball in frustration thinking it's going into the stands... only to realise he's still a foot inside the whitewash.

He pleads innocence and there's no booking. Some NBA teams might sit up and take notice, however.

Patrick Roberts again glides down the right, past defenders, to the byline but cannot cut it back to Mason Burstow, with a defender deflecting behind.

The Owls do manage to clear the corner successfully.

Patrick Roberts beats the offide trap and charges down the right flank but opts to keep the ball and cut inside and get crowded out rather than square to Jack Clarke or lay-off to Alex Pritchard who were in far better positions. They were not best pleased, it's safe to say.

More of the same so far for Wednesday fans to endure...

Here we go... will that teamtalk make any difference?

No changes for either side.

Keep the comments coming Owls fans... and Sunderland fans too... this is a safe space, after all.

Lee Abrahams: Let’s be honest, Xisco should have been sacked a month ago. Brought in poor players, a system that doesn’t work and hasn’t even picked up a win against the two League Two sides we’ve faced. A woeful appointment.

Jonny: I'm a Sunderland fan and it's a shame to see the state of Sheffield Wednesday. However, being good in League One and Championship is light years apart. Big shout to Tony Mowbray....SAFC Legend already.

Pete in Cardiff: What would happen if Wednesday played Sheffield United? The defences leak like a sieve and the attacks can't score.

Sass: Never should have let Darren Moore go.

Jason in Reading: A club from South Yorkshire losing 3-0 at half-time to a club from the North East. Ring any bells?

It's looking very much like Sunderland will be able to sit back and enjoy the weekend programme of fixtures, and so can you...

With leaders Leicester not in action until Sunday's trip to Blackburn, Ipswich have the chance to return to the top of the table by extending their perfect away record on a visit to Huddersfield.

If Town fall short then Preston are lurking, a point behind in third ahead of the visit of West Brom to Deepdale.

Sunderland-aside, Hull are the best of the rest, five points back, and welcome Plymouth while Leeds head to Southampton for the early game against another side freshly relegated to the second tier.

Cardiff will seek to close on the play-off places as they host second-bottom Rotherham while third-bottom Middlesbrough travel to Watford.

Norwich welcome Birmingham while Millwall will seek to close the gap at home to Swansea and Bristol City host Stoke while QPR and Coventry will seek to move away from trouble when they meet in West London.

Be sure to follow the action live with us across the weekend.

Brian Laws
Ex-Sheff Wed manager on BBC Radio Sheffield

Sunderland are a vibrant side who have taken their moments with ease.

3-0 is a task that is possibly too far for Sheffield Wednesday but they need to try to get some positivity out of the second half, they need to get some self-pride back.

They need to try to win the second half and take a positive from it. But the feeling around the ground... it's not a good place.

Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

Sunderland could easily be four or five up. They are in second gear but Sheffield Wednesday are all over the place.

If they don't step it up in the second half you could see Sunderland score another two or three goals.

Image source, Getty Images

One of these two teams suffered a defeat without scoring in their last home game.

That team is winning 3-0 at half-time here.

Dan Ballard's thumping header, Jack Clarke's fine run and curling shot less than four minutes later and a Clarke penalty after Mason Burstow's fine spin in the box have Sunderland fizzing with confidence.

Wednesday, on the other hand, look broken.

The boos are short and sharp as the whistle sounds.

Much to do for Xisco Munoz.

Patrick Roberts is feeling more like his old self. Back in the side today he controls superbly on the right flank and bustles inside before trying this luck from distance.

The control was better than the shot.