Newcastle are, as expected, making a late surge with plenty of men forward as they try to force an equaliser.

Cisse again goes spectacularly close from range as he unleashes another bolt from the blue that strikes the foot of the post.

Superb effort from Cisse who hits a thunderous strike on the turn from a tight angle that flies a fraction over the cross bar.

Newcastle now look a little short on ideas but nerves are bound to show from the hosts so expect an onslaught from the visitors.

Sunderland are flying forward now as Diouf pulls wide to the right to cross for Jones who beats Beye in the air but his header just beats the cross bar too.

Danny Collins goes on a rare sortie forward from centre-half to collect Diouf's pass and fire narrowly wide of Given's near post.

The wind is still having a massive effect on proceedings and Newcastle fail to clear a high ball which drops for Malbranque who snatches with his left foot and only hits Row Z.

The pressure is increasing from the home side as Malbranque spreads it wide for Diouf who spots Richardson arriving late but the ball is a little high making the volley tough for the former England international who can't get the direction right.

What a miss! Richardson hits a superb ball over the Newcastle back four and Cisse is onto it but with Given at his mercy he fails to connect properly and the keeper can smother the ball.

The Joey Barton sideshow continues as he is treated to a volley of abuse from Sunderland supporters as he warms up on the sidelines - the Newcastle fans respond with "There's only one Joey Barton", for which plenty of people are thankful.

Chance for Newcastle! Butt robs Richardson to release Martins, he feeds Ameobi who cuts inside Collins only to loop his effort over the bar when he should have been testing Fulop at the very least.

The home side are definitely back on top but yet again their final ball is nowhere near good enough and you can sense the frustration around the stadium.

A smart but speculative effort from Martins on the half volley from all of 30 yards dips wickedly but just too late as it clears the cross bar.

As with the first half Sunderland have started brightest but once again they are struggling to deliver any quality crosses into the penalty area.

There is going to be just one minute of added time here.

Not much by the way of goalmouth action here at the moment but the tackles are starting to fly in - and Nicky Butt is back with us for now.

Newcastle are testing Marton Fulop with crosses as he looks questionable under the high ball for now preferring to punch rather than catch.

Sunderland are back on the front foot now having been rocked a little by the equaliser and Chimbonda is almost in behind to find Cisse but Bassong covers well to block.

The home fans have had their spirits dampened slightly by that goal but Nicky Butt has disappeared down the tunnel for treatment - Joey Barton is readying himself.

It goes from bad to worse for the Toon as Nicky Butt is struggling with a knock and the atmosphere could get even hotter as football's current villain Joey Barton is the man who would replace him.

A gale force breeze is swirling about inside the stadium causing havoc with looped balls towards the front men and it must be a nightmare for the goalkeepers on crosses.

The home crowd are anything but quiet now and once again Newcastle are going to have to come from behind to take anything from this game.

The hosts are showing good movement in the opening 15 minutes with Chimbonda and McCartney not afraid to overlap and join the attack.

Newcastle are trying to quieten a boystrous crowd by passing the ball around the back four but for now it is not working as planned.

The home side look the brighter and Diouf fires a dangerous ball across the six-yard box that both Malbranque and Cisse are inches away from turning into the net.

Slightly unexpectedly Sunderland are set up in a 4-5-1, not the assumed 4-4-2, with Diouf wide on the right and Malbranque wide on the left.

Sunderland give themselves a problem and Anton Ferdinand makes two sterling blocks in the midst of a penalty box scramble to deny Martins.

In the opening few minutes its been more of a chanting match between the fans than a football match as neither side are able to get their foot on the ball.