It's game over and Sunderland have secured a crucial three points with a fantastic victory against their North-East rivals.

That could be a huge goal in Sunderland's season and as results stand will guarentee them survival.

It's an injury time goal for Sunderland as Murphy converts Leadbitter's corner.

Five minutes of injury time are announced by the fourth official - there is time for a winner!

Leadbitter's ball into the box finds Jones, who sees his glancing header easily saved by his name sake in the Middlesbrough goal.

You get the feeling that both sides are settling for what they have got at the moment.

Sunderland make another change with Chopra being replaced by Daryl Murphy.

A neat passing move from the home side ends with a fantastic ball into the box by Reid, which was heading for Kenwyen Jones before Pogatetz's crucial interception.

Downing threatens down the left hand side again, finding Andrew Taylor who sees his cross easily claimed by Gordon..

It's hardly suprising that Sunderland couldn't hold onto their lead. They haven't beaten Middlesbrough at home since 2000.

Before the game both sides may have been happy with a point and this is probably still the case - but can someone take a gamble and get all three?

Downing bursts down the left hand side before his clipped cross into the penalty area is crucially cleared by Nosworthy.

The game is coming to life again now as a Sunderland corner is headed away by Wheater before Luke Young eventaully clears.

Middlesbrough equalise through Alves who slots the ball home after being played through on goal by Arca.

Great one touch football from Sunderland sees Leadbitter find Chopra who can't quite find the target with his shot to finish off the mood.

There is likely to be at least five minutes injury time at the end of this game, following the stoppage time that will be added on for the clash of heads earlier.

It's a rare chance for the away side as Boateng finds Downing at the back post, but he fails to test Gordan in the Sunderland goal.

That save has kept Middlesbrough in this game - a third goal for the home side would surely have won the game.

A great save by Brad Jones denies Chopra making it 3-1, after the striker gets on the end of a superb Whitehead cross.

It's a deserved yellow card for Pogatetz after a rash challenge on Kenwyne Jones.

Corner for Middlesbrough is wasted as Danny Collins heads the ball away.

We have moved into the last 25 minutes of the game now and the away side need to make something happen soon if they are going to equalise.

There is a stoppage in play after Kenwyne Jones and Emanuel Pogatetz clash heads in a nasty collision.

This really would be a huge win for Sunderland, they have lost their last two and will virtually be safe with a win today.

It's a change for Sunderland this time as Grant Leadbitter replaces Edwards.

The resulting free kick is taken by Alves, but it goes high and wide of the target - an awful and wasted attempt.

George Boateng does well to win the ball for his side and makes a menacing run towards goal before being fouled by Nyron Nosworthy.

Chopra and Edwards work well this time, resulting in the latter having a strike at goal which goes just wide of the post.

Cattermole is replaced by Fabio Rochemback for the away side.

Carlos Edwards makes his first significant run of the game, but is stopped by Cattermole before Arca eventually clears the danger.

Gareth Southgate will surely be pondering a change soon as his side look to get back onto level terms.

As Chopra bares down on goal once again, a late linesman's flag puts a stop to the attack - that was a close one.

Both these sides away form is rather awful, but Middlesbrough have only won three times on the road this season and look unlikely to make it four today.

Chopra is involved again, this time his shot is off target though, flying over the bar. He has seemed lively today though.

The referee fails to spot a trip on Downing just outside the area as the winger pleads for a free kick - that should have been a chance for the away side to get a good cross into the box.

Whitehead's free kick is headed away by Wheater as the home side start the second half as they finished the first - on top.

The reverse fixture this season saw the sides draw 2-2, you get the feeling that Middlesbrough would settle for that this afternoon.

Brad Jones does well to stop Kenwyne Jones as the striker finds himself clear on goal.

Chopra is involved straight away as he turns the ball towards goal, but Jones saves comfortably with the ball heading wide anyway.

The second half is underway, can Sunderland hold on to what would be a crucial three points?

It's half time and Sunderland lead at the break by two goals to one.

Whitehead is booked for kicking the ball away - what a stupid thing to do at this stage of the game.

Chopra puts Sunderland into the lead just before the break as he blasts the ball into the roof of the net from just inside the penalty area.

A last ditch tackle from the impressive Wheater stops Reid in his tracks, just as the midfielder was going to unleash a shot at goal.

Afonso Alves has been quiet for the visitors so far, he will want to get more involved in the game during the second half.

A Middlesbrough free kick into the Sunderland penalty area fails to cause any problems and Whitehead clears the ball away.

The crowd are starting to get restless. They are unhappy with some of the decisions of the referee and it's all adding to the atmospher of this Wear-Tees derby.

As we move into the last five minutes of a half, what both managers wouldn't give to go into the break a goal to the good.

Chopra is also booked for his part in the altercation.

Wheater is in trouble after pushing Chopra in the chest and goes into the book.

Birmingham have just taken the lead against Liverpool - meaning today's game becomes even more crucial for Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

Brad Jones fumbles another Reid cross, this time though Arca is on hand the clear the danger. The young keeper is having problems with high balls into the box today.

There haven't been many clear cut chances of late, as Lee Cattermole loses the ball before he can put a decent ball into the box.

Kieran Richardson is booked for a foul on Julio Arca, he can't have too many complaints with that one.

Wheater leaps above Jones to clear the danger from another Sunderland attack - good play again from the young centre back.

It has been an interesting battle so far between Chopra and Wheater and it's one which could go someway to deciding the outcome of this game.

The Sunderland crowd appeal for a penalty as they feel Wheater is fouling Chopra, but the referee waves away any protests.

Reid hooks the ball forward to Chopra, but the striker slips at the crucial moment before he can get his shot away. He had got the wrong side of Wheater there.

If Southgate's side do manage to win today, don't expect it to be by much. They have not won by more than one goal since September 2007.

A great chance for Middlesbrough to go back in front as Downing's ball into the box is headed just wide by Tuncay - a great header, only slightly off target.

A free kick for the away side on the left hand side is taken by Downing and headed away by Jones. Neither side are making the most of their set pieces as yet.

Corner for Sunderland is taken by Reid, but it is easily headed away by Downing - a good piece of defending by the winger.

Liam Miller finds Reid on the left hand side, before finding Chopra in the penalty area - but Wheater ends the attack, with another great challenge.

A draw in a North-East derby has been rather common of late for Middlesbrough, they have drawn their last four of these fixtures.

Sunderland have relied heavily on their home form this season, securing 18 more points at the Stadium of Light than on their travels.

Stewart Downing's first involvement in the game is to waste a cross from a good position on the left hand side - he needs to do better than that if he is to have an impact today.

Middlesbrough have a fantastic recent record at Sunderland, if they win today it will be their fourth successive win at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland are on top now and dominating posession as a great ball from Reid just avades his three awaiting team mates.

Kenwyne Jones loses his footing at the crucial moment as he attempts to latch onto a menacing ball from Higginbotham.

Fantastic pass from Dean Whitehead sets Chopra away, but from an acute angle the former Newcastle striker drags the ball wide of the post.

Andy Reid's long ball into the box is fumbled by Bradley Jones before he finally claims the ball in his arms - he seemed dodgy there.

Gareth Southgate will be annoyed at his sides inability to hold their lead for at least a few minutes. Sunderland are on top now and looking to go ahead in the game.

It's an explosive start to this game! Don't expect that to be the last of the goals, it's end to end stuff.

Sunderland are back in the game straight away as Danny Higginbotham's header equalises for the home side.

It's the first goal of the game as Tuncay gets himself through on goal before slotting the ball past Craig Gordon.

Michael Chopra bursts down the right hand side for Roy Keane's men, but the ever impressive David Wheater puts a stop to the attack with a solid challenge.

Sanli Tuncay hs the first effort of the game, but his ambitious 30 yard effort goes flying over the bar. It's a bright start from the away side though.

It's an electric atmosphere inside the ground in a game where a win for either side would go some way to securing their Premier League status.

Neither side are the the best form at present, with Sunderland losing their last two and Middlesbrough only winning one of their last nine.

They are underway the the Stadium of Light in the 126th Wear-Tees league derby with both sides sitting five points clear of the drop zone.