Sunderland v Southampton

1. Sunderland: Pantilimon, Jones, van Aanholt, Cattermole, Larsson, Wickham, Gomez, O'Shea, Graham, Coates, Defoe.
2. Southampton: K. Davis, Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Bertrand, Alderweireld, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Long, Mane, Pelle.

A massive win for Sunderland, who remain 18th and remain a point adrift of safety. Anything less than a win would have left them with a lot of work to do.

Southampton stay seventh, and Liverpool's late winner against QPR means they are now four points off fifth place.

You can get reaction and analysis from Stadium of Light, right here.

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Daniel Gough: That Pantilimon save might save might be vital come the end of the season for Sunderland

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FULL-TIME

GREAT SAVE!

Here come Saints again. The cross come in and Graziano Pelle sweeps the ball goalwards. It is going in, until Costel Pantilimon somehow blocks it.

He was the villain earlier, but he is the hero now. What a brilliant reaction save this is. That was a match-winner.

Sunderland cannot clear.

Just 60 seconds to go. Saints hoist the ball into the area.

The big decisions have definitely gone Sunderland's way today. They are not over the line yet, but some of their fans are starting to celebrate. Hold your horses folks...

Sunderland have a corner. Their fans are still counting every second but Southampton deserve credit here because their 10 men have pushed the Black Cats all the way.

INJURY TIME

There will be four minutes of added time at Stadium of Light. It is too much for some of their fans to take.

Saints look more likely to score at the moment though. A cross from the left causes confusion in the Sunderland area and the ball bounces for Filip Djuricic, who cannot get a clean shot away. Costel Pantilimon collects, and the home fans breathe again.

A third goal would settle the nerves of the home fans a bit. Sunderland have the ball but and are on the attack. Jack Rodwell gets a shot away from a tight angle but there is no way past Kelvin Davis from there.

Reuters

This is how Jordi Gomez celebrated his second spot-kick success. None of the Sunderland fans at Stadium of Light is celebrating the three points just yet though.

Less than seven minutes of the 90 to play. Saints are seeing a lot of the ball. Sunderland are pressed back in their own half.

SUBSTITUTION

A double switch for Sunderland.

Adam Johnson replaces Jermain Defoe and plays for the first time since being charged with three counts of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.

And Jack Rodwell is on for Seb Larsson.

I think Sunderland fans are more nervous when their team has possession than when Southampton have the ball. We are in for a very tense finish.

They are trailing and down to 10 men but it is not all bad news for Southampton, though.

Liverpool, who are currently leading the race for fifth, have just been pegged back by QPR. That means the Reds are only two points ahead of Saints in that particular tussle.

How big would this win be for Sunderland? Massive. Without it, they would be three points behind Hull and Leicester, and with inferior goal difference.

SUBSTITUTION

Sadio Mane is slowly hobbling off, to be replaced by Eljero Elia. Safe to say the home fans did not exactly give Mane a sympathetic send off.

This is a strange one. Sadio Mane goes down in some pain and Lee Cattermole is in the vicinity. Sunderland fans were probably thinking 'uh-oh' because Cattermole is already on a yellow.

But referee Mike Jones sees nothing wrong and replays seem to confirm Cattermole did nothing at all. Mane has done himself some damage though, because he cannot continue.

Saints may be down to 10 men but Sunderland look very nervous, none more so than keeper Costel Pantilimon. The Romanian has already gifted the visitors one goal by making a hash of a cross and he looks far from certain as he comes to get Ryan Bertrand's free-kick. It is down to Connor Wickham to clear.

SUBSTITUTION

Time for Saints to make a change in their engine room. Victor Wanyama is coming off, replaced by Steven Davis. He has got around 25 minutes left to make a difference.

YELLOW CARD

Another booking for referee Mike Jones to dish out, this time to Victor Wanyama for a foul on Jordi Gomez. Sunderland cannot make the most of the resulting free-kick though.

As things stand, Sunderland are just a point adrift of safety. Some tense moments to come this afternoon, though, because Saints still look dangerous even though they are down to 10 men and their only shot on target so far is Sadio Mane's goal.

YELLOW CARD

Sunderland fans are very nervous when their team have the ball but they do love a good tackle and they are making a lot of noise at the moment. Lee Cattermole is a big reason for that, although he has just been booked for fouling Toby Alderweireld.

Not like him...

The good news for Sunderland is that they have held on to their lead for more than 73 seconds this time...

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown

Final Score

"James Ward-Prowse just runs in to Jermain Defoe, there is no malice but he clears him out. A lovely penalty from Jordi Gomez, such calm at a really important moment."

GOAL

Reuters

Here we go again.

Great play by Lee Cattermole, with a typically tenacious tackle before he sends Danny Graham charging into the box. Graham looks up and finds Jermain Defoe arriving at pace, and he goes to ground after colliding with James Ward-Prowse.

Referee Mike Jones points to the spot and shows a straight red to Ward-Prowse, before Jordi Gomez sends Kelvin Davis the wrong way to put his side back in front.

RED CARD

PENALTY to Sunderland

PA

Sunderland's supporters don't half sound anxious when their side have the ball... understandable when things like this happen...

Seb Coates, under no pressure whatsoever on the edge of his own box, rolls the ball to Saints forward Filip Djuricic and gives him a great shooting chance. Fortunately for the Black Cats, he flashes it wide of the target.

Southampton prefer to pass it around in their own half when they have possession, while Sunderland are far more direct.

They keep trying to pump the ball into the visitors' area, but Saints are dealing with it pretty well so far.

KICK-OFF

Sunderland get the second half under way.

SUBSTITUTION

Saints are making a change at half-time. Filip Djuricic is on for Shane Long.

As things stand, Sunderland are three points adrift of safety, and four behind Newcastle. They still need to win this one.

With Liverpool beating QPR, Saints are currently three points off fifth place. Again, they badly need a victory.

That sets us up pretty well for the second half, doesn't it?

HALF-TIME

Yep, Seb Larsson bends his shot over the wall and brings a sprawling save from Kelvin Davis, who claws the ball to safety. Sunderland are soon launching the ball back into the Saints area but that is all we have time for in the first half.

Fair play to Sunderland, they are giving this a real go. Patrick van Aanholt charges forward and is brought down on the edge of the box. Seb Larsson is behind this one...

What a scramble this is. The Black Cats come forward again and, again, they should do better.

Connor Wickham's angled shot is blocked, Jermain Defoe throws himself at the ball and it drops for Danny Graham at the far post. He could take a swing at it but tries to cut inside instead and is crowded out.

Sunderland have had plenty of chances in this first half but they are also making a habit of making things difficult for themselves.

This time Patrick van Aanholt gives the ball away on the halfway line and Saints pour forward. They have plenty of men in the box but Shane Long's cross is poor and lets the Black Cats off the hook.

Sunderland's best chance for a while. Since their goal, actually. Patrick van Aanholt picks out Connor Wickham in space in the box, but he blasts his shot high and wide. His reaction shows that he knows he should have done much better there.

Getty Images

Here is Jordi Gomez (r) celebrating after scoring his penalty. Sadly for Sunderland, those smiles did not last long... Southampton were level just 73 seconds later.

You may recall that Sunderland substutite Santiago Vergini opened the scoring when these two sides met at St Mary's in October. It was pretty special, a volley from 18 yards, and just a pity it was into his own net.

The Black Cats scored three own goals in total that day, and lost 8-0. By this stage they were 2-0 down so I guess this represents a massive improvement.

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Paul Collins: That's why Sunderland are going down. Score in 21st, conceded an equaliser in 22nd. Soft.

Thoughts on that and anything else post to #bbcfootball on Twitter, or text us on 81111 in the UK only. And if you are texting in, please don't forget to include your name and location.

YELLOW CARD

Our first booking of the day. Billy Jones fouls Sadio Mane and goes into Mike Jones' book. Saints send the resulting free-kick into the Sunderland area but, eventually, the home side clear.

SUBSTITUTION

Sunderland skipper John O'Shea has been struggling since he collided with Shane Long earlier. He cannot continue and will be replaced by Santiago Vergini.

Saints continue to have the better of possession - about 58% of it - but Sunderland are showing more urgency when they have the ball, which is understandable really given their situation and with their fans urging them on.

Reuters

Double Dutch? This picture of Southampton manager Ronald Koeman and Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat was taken before kick-off. I don't think Advocaat will be laughing now, after that bit of defending by his team.

BBC Final Score

Former Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin: "A little bit of communication. That is all you are asking for there. It's the goalkeeper and defender who've made the mistake and cost Sunderland, without a doubt."

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown: "For me Costel Pantilimon is taken out by the defender there. You have to be able to trust your team-mates but that is a calamity."

GOAL

PA

What a mess this is by the Black Cats. Costel Pantilimon comes to get a harmless high ball into the box, but falls over two of his team-mates and drops the ball. Sadio Mane says thank you very much and tucks it away into the empty net.

Sunderland were ahead for a matter of seconds.

GOAL

Reuters

Jordi Gomez steps up to take it. Much pressure? The Spaniard does not show it, stepping up to coolly tuck the spot-kick away.

PENALTY to Sunderland

Jose Fonte kicks Danny Graham in the head as they both chase a dropping ball in the Saints box. Referee Mike Jones points to the spot.

We've had a bit of a delay while Sunderland skipper John O'Shea had some treatment but he is fine to continue. His side are trying to keep this spell of pressure going.

Just when the Black Cats fans were going a bit quiet, Danny Graham gets them going again.

He starts this attack by winning the ball just inside the Saints half, and finishes it too... flashing a shot just wide after letting fly from about 20 yards too. The home side's best effort yet.

Saints have just had their second shot of the game, and it makes Ryan Bertrand's effort from earlier look like a decent effort. This time it is Victor Wanyama who tries his luck from outside the area, but he sends the ball soaring towards the second tier.

No goals here yet, or even a sniff of one. There has been one at Villa Park, though, and I bring bad news for Sunderland fans - Aston Villa are ahead against Everton.

That means the Black Cats are four points adrift of safety, as things stand.

Larsson hoists it to the back post where Billy Jones climbs to get his head on it. No power behind his effort, though, and it bounces harmlessly into the hands of Kelvin Davis.

A first sight of goal for the home team? Sunderland have already wasted one free-kick from the left. They have got another one now though... Seb Larsson to swing it in.

The camera pans around Stadium of Light to reveal quite a few empty seats. The Sunderland fans who are here are making a lot of noise, though.

Reuters

Our first shot of the day (or at least I think it was a shot) is by Southampton.

Ryan Bertrand's effort from the right-hand corner of the box trundles a long way wide. He likes to get forward, but he usually does a lot better than that.

KICK-OFF

Right then, Saints get us started.

Only a matter of seconds until we get going in the sunshine at Stadium of Light.

Sunderland are the joint-lowest scorers in the Premier League, and Southampton have the best defence. That does not bode well for Dick Advocaat's side who, as discussed, badly need a win.

PA

A hen party has been parading round the pitch before kick-off at Stadium of Light. Most of them are dressed as referees, apart from the bride-to-be, who is clearly a big Sunderland fan. Got to say the best costume belongs to the lady who has come as a corner flag though...

Southampton still have plenty to play for too, of course. Along with Liverpool and Tottenham they are in the hunt for a Europa League place.

That might not seem like much of a prize to you (or I), but remember Saints were in League One as recently as 2011. They have only been in Europe once since 1985, when they got in the Uefa Cup after losing to Arsenal in the 2003 FA Cup final.

So, a big day for Sunderland and their survival hopes. After this one, they have four games left but only one is at home - against Leicester on 16 May, which should be tasty.

The Black Cats end their campaign with away games at Arsenal and Chelsea. That is just plain mean, isn't it?

Alistair Mann

BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Some supporters are witnessing their team's season petering out to a tame conclusion, but Sunderland fans would be delighted for the opportunity for a completely pressure-free mid-table finish.

"Since their promotion in 2007, the Black Cats have spent most of the subsequent eight years flirting with relegation, with last season's late turnaround their most dramatic escape so far.

"Hull City's midweek win against Liverpool has exacerbated their predicament, with Advocaat stating that at least six further points will be required to maintain their top-flight status.

"The other, Southampton, will have viewed the result at the KC Stadium very differently to Sunderland, as it has enhanced their opportunity to secure European football next season and complete a record-breaking campaign in style."

Sunderland winger Adam Johnson returns to the squad the first time since being charged with three counts of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.

The England international has not featured since the Black Cats' 4-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace on 11 April but is on the bench.

Injured striker Steve Fletcher misses out again for Dick Advocaat's side.

Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin is out because of a knee injury but fellow midfielder Victor Wanyama returns following suspension and Shane Long is recalled up front.

Sunderland XI: Pantilimon, Jones, van Aanholt, Cattermole, Larsson, Wickham, Gomez, O'Shea, Graham, Coates, Defoe.

Southampton XI: K. Davis, Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Bertrand, Alderweireld, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Long, Mane, Pelle.

BBC/Getty

Win today, and Sunderland could be out of the relegation zone (depending on how Aston Villa get on). Even if they aren't, a victory would mean they are only two points behind Newcastle, who are dropping like a stone.

The problem? The Black Cats are playing Southampton.

You might remember that Saints 'sneaked' a narrow win in an eight-goal thriller at St Mary's in October...

So, Newcastle are about to lose - again. Time to find out if their north-east neighbours and relegation rivals Sunderland can add to the Magpies' misery.