Sunderland's Pierre Ekwah tries a proper long-ranger but it just hits off a Newcastle defender and doesn't even reach the box.

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Bright start this for the Toon and they have their first chance. Kieran Trippier, again, swings in a cross which Sean Longstaff nods towards goal but Anthony Patterson saves.

Image source, Reuters

Couple of dangerous crosses from Kieran Trippier, but Sunderland escape.

Ally McCoist
Former Rangers striker & manager on ITV

We've barely kicked a ball but this is completely living up to my expectations. This is marvellous.

Newcastle corner within 50 seconds. Kieran Trippier involved early doors.

We are under way at the Stadium of Light.

Roy Keane
Former Sunderland manager on ITV

Sunderland fans are as passionate as any. This is a huge day for the club today.

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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe: "When the draw was made, we made reference to the draw and I gave a couple of the Geordies a chance to speak about the fixture, just to set the scene.

"The players know everything they need to know about the fixture. Sometimes you can overkill that so it's then been about how we're going to play and how we're going to execute our plan."

Lee Clark played for both sides, albeit mostly for Newcastle, and tells The Football News Show how intense the rivalry is and how the first 20 minutes could be chaotic at the Stadium of Light.

"Fire in the belly but cool in the head," says the former midfielder.

Sunderland head into the tie unbeaten in three games - winning two and drawing one to climb to sixth in the Championship.

Boss Michael Beale, appointed on 18 December after Tony Mowbray was sacked, is no stranger to a high-profile derby. He was Rangers manager on six occasions for Old Firm games against Celtic.

"It's a fixture that captivates everyone in the north-east but also across the country. We love our derbies in English football," Beale said.

"We need to be at our very best, there's obviously a difference between the two clubs at the moment.

"It's intriguing to put our young Championship squad up against a Champions League squad."

Image source, Getty Images

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It is the first meeting of the sides since March 2016, a 1-1 Premier League draw in March 2016.

Newcastle are without a win in their past nine meetings with Sunderland (D3 L6 in the Premier League between 2012 and 2016), since a 1-0 away win in August 2011. This is their longest winless run against their north-east rivals.

Sunderland have won their past two FA Cup ties against Newcastle United, though this is their first meeting in the competition since 1955-56.

Peter Reid
Former Manchester City and Sunderland manager on BBC 5 Live

I have been involved in Merseyside and Manchester derbies, but they do not come any bigger than the derby in the North East.

Newcastle are ninth in the Premier League and Sunderland are sixth in the championship so that is the perspective. It is a good young Sunderland squad and with the crowd behind them it will be a great atmosphere.

I think it will be a tight game, but one I am really looking forward to watching - I think Sunderland will fancy their chances.

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Newcastle manager Eddie Howe says he "hopes" today's game will be a season-changing one for his side.

"That's how we have to look at it," Howe said.

The Magpies are ninth in the Premier League and out of the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

Newcastle have exited the FA Cup at this stage in each of the past two seasons, with losses against Cambridge United and Sheffield Wednesday.

"I'm well aware of my record here... the two games we've had have been disappointing," Howe said.

"I won't shy away from that and we'll try make up for it in this game."

Watch Matthew Raisbeck and Nick Barnes, who commentate on the Magpies and the Black Cats for BBC Radio Newcastle, deliver inspirational speeches to their respective teams.

Sunderland

Sunderland manager Michael Beale, speaking to ITV: "It's special to both sides and special to people in the north east. It's too different teams; one that has been heavily invested in and a young one that is doing well in the Championship."

Opportunity for Sunderland players: "It's an opportunity for them and they are there to be taken. What an opportunity for them. Certainly a derby at home, you don't get a better opportunity than that."

Sunderland game plan: "We play a lot on the floor and we play a lot of combination play, it's vital we stay true to that. We've had some clean sheets and I've been pleased with that."

Image source, Getty Images

All the 12:30 GMT games will be kicking off right about now. We'll let you know when the goals start flying in.

Just how heated is the rivalry between Sunderland and Newcastle fans?

Sunderland fan Joel and Newcastle United supporter Charlotte had their say on The Football News Show.

So how key is a Newcastle win? And what has irked Sunderland fans this week?

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Wimbledon, who are seventh in League Two, have been an impressive run on the FA Cup so far this season, scoring five goals against both Cheltenham Town and eighth-tier Ramsgate.

Meanwhile, Ipswich are flying high near the top of the Championship.

Kieran McKenna's side are second, 10 points behind leaders Leicester, as they chase a return to the Premier League after a 22 year absence.

FA Cup winners in 1978, Ipswich will be desperate for victory today after a run of five games without a win.

The two sides last met in League One in January 2022 when the Tractor Boys ran out 2-0 winners at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

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Leicester City won the FA Cup for the first time in 2021, but the Foxes' fortunes took a hit when they were relegated to the Championship last season.

They've lost a number of the players that were part of that FA Cup winning side, but Leicester are currently the Championship's runaway leaders - sitting 10 points clear at the top.

The Foxes are on a 10-game unbeaten run, which included a 3-2 win over today's opponents Millwall on 13 December.

But Joe Edwards' side, 15th in the Championship, have gone three games unbeaten since then and kept four consecutive clean sheets.