As we enter the final minutes of this game it is Sunderland in possession and pressing forward, however they have failed to produce the final ball here tonight and simply haven't done enough to warrant an equalising goal here. Boro look on course to clinch the points.
CHANCE BORO! Forshaw brings the ball down and lays it off to Downing on the edge of the area who fires a shot at goal, which has Pickford scrambling across his goal but it goes narrowly wide.
90'
There will be a minimum of four minutes added time played here at the Riverside.
88'
Another cheap free-kick is given away by Boro. The set piece is taken by Januzaj, but his delivery is terrible! It fails to reach the penalty area and the Sunderland supporters voice their disgust at that wasted opportunity.
87'
Sunderland piled the Boro penalty area with plenty of players, but the Black Cats fail to put the ball in the danger zone! Borini fouls Forshaw near the corner flag and Boro regain possession.
84'
J. Rodwell enters the game and replaces L. Cattermole.
Sunderland make their final substitution of the game, with the returning Lee Cattermole the man to come off and he is replaced by Jack Rodwell.
83'
Cattermole puts a good ball into the box which is met by Jones, who heads the ball across goal. However none of his teammates are on his wavelength and Guzan easily gathers the ball. Another chance gone begging for the Black Cats.
81'
Sunderland keep trying to bring the ball forward, but it appears that they have ran out of ideas with Boro now doing a much better job of keeping Defoe and Anichebe quiet. However that could all change with one chance at goal.
80'
Just 10 minutes to play here at the Riverside Stadium. Will there be some late drama or can Boro see this game out and secure all three points for the first time in 2017.
77'
A. Januzaj enters the game and replaces W. Khazri.
Now it is Sunderland's turn to make a substitution, Wahbi Khazri is the man coming off and he is replaced by Adnan Januzaj.
Minute
Description
76'
R. Gestede enters the game and replaces Álvaro Negredo.
Negredo doesn't look too happy to be taken off here and a few boos ring out at the Riverside at their disappointment at the substitution. The Spanish striker is replaced by Rudy Gestede.
75'
B. Jones gets yellow.
Another Sunderland player is shown a yellow card, this time it is Billy Jones for his late challenge on Downing on the half-way line.
73'
Despite a much better performance by Sunderland in the second half, they have failed to force Guzan into making any great saves. Boro still lead one-nil thanks to de Roon's strike on eight minutes.
71'
Fábio gets yellow.
Fábio is shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Anichebe. The resulting free-kick is headed towards goal, but it is easily gathered in the area by Guzan.
68'
Both sides have a tough set of remaining games to play. Next up for Boro is Manchester City, before they travel to league leaders Chelsea, then they face Southampton and Liverpool. Whilst Sunderland face Bournemouth on Saturday, then they face relegation rivals Hull and Swansea, before facing touch games against Arsenal and Chelsea.
66'
Terrible challenge by Manquillo on Negredo, right on the edge of the box down the right wing. Downing is the man to whip the ball in but it is well met by Anichebe. Another decent opportunity that has not been capitalised on.
65'
F. Borini enters the game and replaces D. Gibson.
Sunderland make their first substitution of the game and it is an attacking one. Darron Gibson is the man coming off and he is replaced by Fabio Borini.
63'
Another Sunderland corner, as Cattermole's pass towards Anichebe is deflected behind. They need to make one of these chances count. However the set piece into the box is poor and far too close to Guzan who gathers the ball with ease and takes some pressure off his defence.
60'
The good play in the last five minutes by Sunderland has certainly got the away supporters spirits up. They remain behind their side, in their quest for an equalising goal. However, Sunderland have failed to come from behind to win when they have been losing at the half-time break. That needs to change here tonight.
59'
CLOSE! Terrible mistake by Adam Forshaw! The Boro midfielder fails to clear his lines at two opportunities,while virtually in his own goal mouth, inviting a huge amount of pressure on his goal before Guzan is forced into making no-nonsense punt alleviates the danger. That could have cost Boro.
58'
More good football by Sunderland but once again they fail to produce the end product. Space opens up on the edge of the box for Khazri, who fires shot at goal but it goes horribly wide, amid huge cheers from the home supporters.
56'
Good pressure by Sunderland being inflicted on the Boro defence at the moment, which ends in a corner for the visitors. However the ball into the box is poor and fails to beat the first defender. The Black Cats then fail to work an opening, with Lee Cattermole slicing his shot from the edge of the box well wide.
54'
Fábio enters the game and replaces Daniel Ayala.
Boro make the first substitution of the game, one which is enforced through injury. Ayala hobbles off with an injury and he is replaced by Fábio.
52'
PENALTY SHOUT! Anichebe tumbles over in the penalty area under pressure from Guzan and immediately appeals for a penalty kick. However it appears that the Boro keeper played the ball and the referee agrees. Nothing given.
51'
The game is end to end at the moment with both teams desperately trying to score. Boro look threatening down the flanks, however their final balls into the box appear to be letting them down. Whilst Sunderland need to try and get Anichebe and Defoe on the ball more often.
50'
If Middlesbrough can hold on to the three points here tonight, they will secure their first Premier League win of 2017.
47'
Ayala brings Victor Anichebe right on the edge of the area, giving Sunderland an excellent opportunity to level the score line here. Defoe and Khazri stand over the set piece... Khazri takes it! GREAT SAVE! Guzan makes a superb diving save to deny Sunderland an equalisiing goal.
46'
The second half is underway!
45' +2
D. Gibson gets yellow.
Gibson receives a yellow card for a late and rash tackle on Christian Stuani.
That's the half-time whistle!
45'
There will be a minimum of two minutes added time played here.
44'
A huge round of applause can he heard around the stadium, in the 44th minute of the game here in memory of Ugo Ehiogu, who spent seven years here at the Riverside and sadly passed away last week.
42'
STAT: Jermain Defoe has scored 14 of Sunderland's 26 league goals this season, but hasn't found the net since the beginning of February, a run of eight games.
40'
Not long to go now until the half-time whistle here at the Riverside Stadium. Can Sunderland score a goal to level this match? They have improved since their shaky spell which saw Boro control the game.
37'
J. O'Shea gets yellow.
Downing steps up to take the free-kick... The winger produces a poor effort at goal as his strike goes high over the bar. That was a decent opportunity for Boro to double their lead.
O'Shea is the first Sunderland player to be shown a yellow card for bringing Gibson down. The Black Cats skipper is furious with his midfield for letting the Boro skipper run that far with the ball unchallenged.
36'
Gibson goes on a storming run through the heart of the Sunderland midfield, he goes unchallenged and almost reaches the penalty area, before he is abruptly brought down by O'Shea. Boro free-kick in a good shooting position.
34'
CHANCE! Guzan called into action for the first time in a while as Ndong lets fly from 30 yards out. The Boro keeper had to be on his toes then, making a strong save to deny the Sunderland midfielder, however it doesn't go out of play, with Jones heading the rebound over the crossbar. Better from the visitors.
33'
Sunderland have gone eight games without a win, they have drawn two and lost six. So they have picked up just two points from the last 24 available, which has kept them rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.
31'
A. Clayton gets yellow.
The second yellow card of the game is shown to Clayton for his late challenge on Defoe in the middle of the pitch. No qualms about the decision by the Boro midfielder.
30'
Defoe attempts to push Sunderland forward on the counter-attack, his through ball is cut out but he is caught late by Clayton who brings the striker down, to prevent a Sunderland attack. So far the Black Cats attack have not had much to feed off.
28'
G. Friend gets yellow.
The first yellow card of the game is shown to George Friend, for his crunching tackle on Whabi Khazri.
27'
The visitors have performed slightly better in the last few minutes, enjoying possession of the ball and starting to venture into the Boro half. With the likes of Defoe on the pitch for Sunderland, the hosts will need to be alert at all times in order to prevent the Black Cats top goalscorer from hitting the back of the net.
25'
Brief stoppage in play here as Daniel Ayala is down receiving medical treatment. The centre-back looks in some discomfort with a head injury, but he appears fine to continue.
23'
The traveling Sunderland supporters are not happy at all with their sides performance here. Boos can be heard coming from the Sunderland support as they produce a catalogue of errors, causing more frantic defending.
21'
Another defensive mistake by Sunderland! O'Shea plays a short ball back to Pickford which forces the goalkeeper to sprint towards the ball under pressure from Negredo. The keeper gets to the ball first and manages to half clear the danger, but Boro come back at them once again. Sunderland just can't seem to get out of their own half at the moment.
20'
GREAT SAVE! Pickford denies Stewart Downing with an excellent stop, to keep the deficit at just one goal. John O'Shea and Jones failed to deal with the danger and Downing runs through on goal! Terrible defending by the Black Cats defenders. Downing so nearly punished them, but his low strike was straight at Pickford who quickly rushed off his goal line to make a vital save.
17'
Sunderland have struggled to regain their composure and positivity that they showed in the opening few minutes of the game, when they looked the more dangerous side. Since scoring, Boro have been on top, enjoying a good spell of possession in the middle of the pitch.
15'
Marten De Roon has scored two goals in his last four Premier League appearances, as many as in his previous 26 combined. What a great time to score another Boro goal, one that could prove vital in their bid to remain in the Premier League.
13'
The atmosphere is excellent here inside the Riverside Stadium, the Boro fans are delighted to see their side take the lead and the large traveling supporters are doing their best to encourage and support their team. Just 24 miles separates the two clubs stadiums.
11'
STAT: Ahead of tonight's game, Boro had scored just 13 goals at home in this season's Premier League, the lowest tally in the top flight.
8'
M. de Roon has scored a goal for Middlesbrough! Assist by A. Clayton.
GOOOAAALLL! BORO LEAD! Middlesbrough take a surprise lead here, with their first attempt on goal and venture into the Sunderland half. Adam Clayton plays a ball over the Sunderland defence for Marten de Roon, who controls on his chest before slotting the ball past the onrushing Jordan Pickford and into the back of the net.
It was a great ball over the top of the Sunderland defence by Adam Clayton, but de Roon did brilliantly to control the ball and slot it into the back of the net. Boro lead!
7'
CHANCE! Defoe forces Brad Guzan into making the first save of the game. It was poor defending from Boro as Gibson needlessly gave possession away deep in his own half. The ball is worked to Didier Ndong on the right, who floats the ball out to Defoe on the left, and his first-time left-footed volley draws Guzan into a save at his near post.
6'
The visitors look far more dangerous here in the early stages of the game. Boro have hardly touched the ball in midfield and Sunderland have spent a lot of time in the Boro half of the pitch.
4'
Billy Jones does very well down the right flank, pushing up high from the right-back position. Jones then squares the ball across goal, looking for Jermain Defoe, but the two Sunderland players were not on the same wavelength, as Defoe looked for a pull back on the edge of the box and Jones played a ball deep into the penalty area. Boro still have turn the ball out for another corner. The set piece is delivered and cleared as far as Darren Gibson, but he drags his shot well wide.
2'
Sunderland win an early corner, after George Friend failed to clear the ball before it crossed the goal line. Not the best of starts for the Boro left-back and Sunderland have an early opportunity here.
The first Sunderland corner is cleared by Alvaro Negredo and out for another corner, but the hosts do well to clear the danger and ease any early pressure on their goal.
1'
We're underway!
Good evening and welcome to our LIVE match commentary of the Premier League clash between Middlesbrough and Sunderland.
The Premier League's bottom two clubs need to win here tonight in a bid to avoid relegation and the local derby should be a feisty affair with much more than just local pride at stake.
Meanwhile, Sunderland have not collected three points since the start of February, when they beat Crystal Palace 4-0. The Black Cats are 12 points off 17th-place Hull with two games in hand. Lee Cattermole is expected to return for Sunderland as is Billy Jones. However, Duncan Watmore is out injured and Sebastian Larsson is suspended.
Middlesbrough are yet to win a Premier League game in 2017, having collected just two points from an available 24 in their last eight league matches. Victor Valdes is set to miss out once again due to a rib injury, so Brad Guzan is expected to feature in the Boro goal. Grant Leadbitter and Marten de Roon have returned to training after injury and could also play a part.
Head-to-head: Sunderland are unbeaten on their last three league visits to the Riverside. However their most recent league visit to Boro was back in January 2009, when Kenwyne Jones hit a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw for the Black Cats, who were then managed by current England boss Gareth Southgate.
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS...
BORO SUBS: Konstantopoulos, Da Silva, Bernardo, Fischer, Bamford, Gestede, Traore
TEAM NEWS: Middlesbrough have made two changes following their huge defeat at Bournemouth. One is enforced, with Cristhian Stuani replacing the suspended Gaston Ramirez, while Adam Forshaw comes in for the injured Antonio Barragan. Sunderland, meanwhile, are unchanged following their 2-2 draw with West Ham last time out.
The teams are out here at the Riverside Stadium and kick-off is almost upon us. Stay tuned for all of the match action!
HALF-TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 SUNDERLAND
Boro lead one-nil here at the Riverside Stadium, in a game which both teams desperately need to win in order to have any chance of remaining in the Premier League for next season. Martin de Roon's goal is what separates the two sides and has given the hosts a deserved lead.
FULL-TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 SUNDERLAND
That's all from us tonight folks, we hope you enjoyed the game!
Middlesbrough secure their first victory of 2017, thanks to Martin de Roon's goal in the first half. Sunderland pressed for an equaliser but failed to produce any final product and rarely troubled Guzan. The Black Cats relegation fears deepen, whilst Boro give themselves a slim chance of staying in the Premier League for another season.
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