Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this evening's Premier League encounter as Sunderland play host to Tottenham Hotspur. We should have some team news for you shortly...

SUNDERLAND: Mannone; Bardsley, Celustka, O'Shea, Brown; Ki, Colback, Larsson, Johnson; Fletcher, Altidore

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Dossena, Gardner, Pickford, Diakite, Giaccherini, Borini, Cattermole

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has made four changes to his starting lineup following Wednesday's 4-3 defeat to Chelsea. Steven Fletcher returns in attack, while Ondrej Celustka, Adam Johnson and Sebastian Larsson all come into the side.

Just waiting on Andre Villas-Boas to name his starting XI now. Hurry up, AVB!

UPDATE: There are five other Premier League fixtures that are entering the final stages right now, and we'll bring you the full-time results as soon as they come in.

TOTTENHAM: Lloris; Walker, Capoue, Dawson, Naughton; Dembele, Paulinho; Lennon, Holtby, Chadli; Defoe

TOTTENHAM SUBS: Friedel, Fryers, Lamela, Sandro, Sigurdsson, Townsend, Soldado

Like Sunderland, Spurs have also made four changes after their 2-1 win over Fulham in midweek. Kyle Naughton, Moussa Dembele, Lewis Holtby and Nacer Chadli are those who come in.

UPDATE: The clock is ticking down in the other five Premier League matches currently being played. Not long left to go in those...

PREMIER LEAGUE FULL-TIME RESULTS:

Crystal Palace 2-0 Cardiff City
Liverpool 4-1 West Ham United
Southampton 1-1 Manchester City
Stoke City 3-2 Chelsea
West Bromwich Albion 0-2 Norwich City

One or two surprising results there, particularly at the Britannia Stadium where Stoke City saw off Chelsea 3-2. However, the biggest shock came in today's early kickoff as Manchester United were beaten 1-0 at home by Newcastle United.

With those results now in, we know what's at stake in this game tonight. A win for Spurs will move Andre Villas-Boas's side up one place in the table to sixth. Things aren't quite as rosy for Sunderland, but the Black Cats can get themselves off the bottom of the standings if they come out victorious tonight.

RECENT FORM:

SUNDERLAND: WLWLDL
SPURS: WDLLDW

Of course, this day has some personal significance for Sunderland boss Gus Poyet. The Uruguayan spent three years as a player at Spurs before finally hanging up his boots in 2004. You can be sure that the travelling fans will give him a fine reception when he emerges from the tunnel in just over 20 minutes.

HEAD TO HEAD: Spurs have a narrow lead when you look at the head-to-head record between these teams down the years. The North-London club have won 40 matches to Sunderland's 35. There have been 27 draws.

The bad news for Sunderland is that they haven't beaten Spurs in any of their last six meetings. The Black Cats last tasted victory in April 2010 with a 3-1 win at the Stadium of Light.

Spurs took the spoils in both fixtures last season, winning 2-1 at the Stadium of Light before earning a 1-0 victory on the final day of the season.

Shock results galore in the top flight today! Find all of our reports here: http://t.co/ux6yhZ8fHR — Sports Mole (@SportsMole) December 7, 2013

REFEREE WATCH: Tonight's man in the middle will be Lee Mason. The official has issued 46 yellow cards and one red card in 12 games this season.

Pre-match stat - Jermain Defoe is 1 goal away from equaling Robbie Keane's 91 PL goals for the club. — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 7, 2013

Here come the players!

Like all matches this weekend, players and fans alike join together for a minute of applause to commemorate the life of the late Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday at the age of 95.

Right then. The pre-match handshakes have been done and it will be Sunderland to kick us off. Here we go!

It's been a fairly tentative start to the game, with both sides jostling for possession. However, Spurs are just starting to take a bit of control in these early stages.

The visitors mount a decent attack as Naughton receives the ball on the egde of the box, but the full-back's attempted pass through to Chadli is blocked out by the Sunderland defence. Lennon then drills in a low cross that is cut out by Brown.

Sunderland have shown some flashes of attacking intent so far, though the final ball has been lacking. Altidore is already proving to be a bit of a handful for the Spurs defence as he uses his immense strength.

The hosts are enjoying their best spell at the moment, as they pass the ball with confidence. It's been a pretty physical match so far, it has to be said. There have been a few tasty challenges flying in. Paulinho tries his luck from 25 yards, but his effort dips over the bar.

It's very even indeed right now. Spurs are looking the more creative of the two sides, though Sunderland continue to play with plenty of positivity. Still goalless.

CHANCE! Decent opening for Sunderland as Fletcher chases a long ball over the top before dragging his left-footed shot wide from just inside the area.

SAVE! Holtby comes close for Spurs as he lets rip from distance, but Mannone is there to push the ball away. That looked as if it might just have been creeping into the corner.

CHANCE! This match has exploded into life in the last few minutes! Colback receives the ball out wide and goes for goal from an acute angle. It's not a bad effort, but he smashes his shot over the bar.

CHANCE! The opportunities keep coming! This time it's Paulinho who tries his luck after being picked out by Lennon inside the box. The Brazilian midfielder shows good control to bring the ball down before seeing his attempt pushed out for a corner by Mannone. Unfortunately for Spurs it comes to nothing.

Great defending from Bardsley. Spurs were looking dangerous there as Lennon broke down the right side, but the Sunderland full-back kept his calm to dispossess the winger before setting his side away on another attack.

A bit of a waste there for Sunderland as Altidore's cross towards Fletcher is too high and goes out of play. The hosts had men forward in that attack.

More of the same in terms of poor crossing from Sunderland as Colback blasts the ball high and wide from out on the left. Still, this is very much an even contest at the moment and one the Sunderland fans feel is there to be one. Their support has been great so far.

CHANCE! Spurs should really be ahead. Chadli rose highest from a corner to head towards goal, only to direct his effort straight into the hands of Mannone. An yards either side and that would have gone in.

Sunderland lead through Adam Johnson, but it's a bit of a howler from Hugo Lloris. The Spurs goalkeeper came out and missed Celtuska's cross before Johnson drilled the ball into the open net to send the crowd wild at the Stadium of Light.

Five minutes of normal time left to play in this first half and the momentum is firmly with Sunderland after that goal. There's still a long way to go in this match, but three points for the Black Cats would certainly shake up the relegation battle shaping up at the bottom of the table.

Spurs weren't behind for long as Paulinho draws the visitors level. A free kick on the right was headed back across goal by Chadli, and there was the Brazilian midfielder to poke the ball past Mannone from close range. Just the tonic for Andre Villas-Boas's men.

SAVE! It's a decent stop from Lloris this time as the French goalkeeper pushes away Celtuska's rasping effort from the edge of the box.

Two minutes added time.

Referee Lee Mason blows his whistle for half time and it's 1-1 between Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur. Adam Johnson gave the hosts the lead following a mistake by Hugo Lloris before Paulinho drew the visitors level minutes before the break.

All in all, that was a fairly decent half of football. It was end-to-end stuff at times, but Spurs created the better chances overall.

For those who may have missed them earlier, here are the other Premier League results from today...

PREMIER LEAGUE FULL-TIME RESULTS:

Crystal Palace 2-0 Cardiff City
Liverpool 4-1 West Ham United
Manchester United 0-1 Newcastle United
Southampton 1-1 Manchester City
Stoke City 3-2 Chelsea
West Bromwich Albion 0-2 Norwich City

As it stands, Spurs would remain in seventh place in the Premier League table while Sunderland would stay rooted to the bottom.

BENCH WATCH: Both sides have plenty of attacking options on their respective benches if they need to shake things up later on. Sunderland have Craig Gardner and Fabio Borini on their bench, while Spurs can call on Gylfi Sigurdsson, Roberto Soldado and Andros Townsend.

The players are back out and it looks like neither side has opted to make any changes at the break. Spurs kick us off for the second half.

Mannone did well there to come off his line quickly and get to the ball before Defoe. The Spurs striker was almost put through there with a long ball over the top.

Spurs have turned it around thanks to an own goal from John O'Shea, but there was nothing the Sunderland skipper could do about that. Dembele did brilliantly to burst into the box from the left before his low cross was turned into his own net by O'Shea.

CHANCE! Great defending by Johnson, of all people, as Spurs broke quickly on the counter-attack. Chadli made a great run into the Sunderland half before trying to pick out Holtby at the back post, but Johnson was there to clear the danger with a last-ditch interception.

5 - Sunderland have now scored five own goals this season; at least three more than any other Premier League side. Calamity.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 7, 2013

CHANCE! Nearly a third goal for Spurs as Walker pulled the ball back to Holtby around the penalty spot, but the German's goal-bound effort was blocked by the Sunderland defence.

OFF THE POST! Spurs come so close again, this time as Defoe heads against the upright following Lennon's clipped cross into the box. The visitors are dominating at the moment.

We've had an hour played and Spurs are looking to kill this game off. Sunderland are struggling to get out of their own half as the visitors crank up the pressure a few notches. However, they will be aware that they need to put away one of these chances sooner rather than later.

CHANCE! Defoe should score, but instead shoots wide! The Spurs striker timed his run perfectly to get in behind the Sunderland defence before dragging his shot past the post.

SUBSTITUTION: It's a double change for Sunderland as Lee Cattermole and Fabio Borini are introduced in place of Jack Colback and Adam Johnson.

Sunderland are just starting to enjoy a bit more of the ball following a long spell of Spurs dominance. Borini and Cattermole seem to have injected a bit of optimism into the home side.

CHANCE! Good opportunity for Sunderland as Fletcher gets his head to Larsson's cross, but the striker can only guide his effort narrowly wide of the goal with Lloris beaten. Can the hosts find an equaliser with the clock ticking down? Twenty minutes left.

SUBSTITUTION: Spurs make their first change of the evening with Sandro replacing Moussa Dembele, who looks to be limping a bit.

PENALTY APPEAL! Should Sunderland have a penalty? The players think so, but Lee Mason waves away the appeals. A corner was whipped in from the left and it looked as if the ball struck the arm of Sandro, who had his arm up in a dangerous position.

SUBSTITUTION: Sunderland's final change of the match sees Emanuele Giaccherini come on in place of Ondrej Celutska. The clock is ticking for the Black Cats.

SUBSTITUTION: And here's another swap for Spurs as Andros Townsend replaces Lewis Holtby.

OFF THE POST! Defoe hits the woodwork for the second time with a delightful little flick from Townsend's cross. The striker just eased the ball towards goal, but it failed to creep inside the post.

2 - Tottenham are one of two teams (with Newcastle) yet to score more than twice in a Premier League game this season. Opportunity.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 7, 2013

CHANCE! That really should be game over as Paulinho misses with a header from close range. Townsend did brilliantly again down the left side, weighing his cross perfectly into the middle. However, Paulinho could only head wide when he should have scored.

SUBSTITUTION: A final change for the visitors sees Gylfi Sigurdsson come on for Nacer Chadli. Can Spurs hold on for the three points?

PHOTO Five minutes to go at the Stadium of Light where Spurs still lead 2-1 through a John O'Shea own goal #SUNTOT pic.twitter.com/rT4igzs0iu

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 7, 2013

YELLOW CARD: Jozy Altidore goes into the book for Sunderland after tripping up Townsend.

There will be a whopping FIVE minutes of injury time at the Stadium of Light.

Something of a half-chance for Sunderland as Bardsley gets his head onto a cross, but his tame effort loops high over the crossbar. Do the Black Cats have one final attack in them?

SAVE! That's a decent stop from Mannone, who pushes Townsend's powerful drive away and out for a corner. Nothing comes of it for Spurs though.

Lee Mason blows the full-time whistle and Tottenham Hotspur have the win to move themselves up to sixth place in the Premier League table. Adam Johnson gave the hosts the lead, but the visitors turned it around through Paulinho and a John O'Shea own goal.

Anyway, that's all from me for now but don't forget that you can keep up to date with reports and reaction from all today's Premier League games right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company, and goodbye!