Welcome along. The meeting of Norwich and Sunderland is about to kick off, so here are the teams:

Norwich: Bunn, Whittaker, Bassong, Ryan Bennett, Garrido, Snodgrass, Tettey, Johnson, Pilkington, Hoolahan, Holt. Subs: Rudd, Martin, Howson, Jackson, Morison, Elliott Bennett, Barnett.

Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Kilgallon, Cuellar, Rose, Johnson, Gardner, Larsson, McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher. Subs: Westwood, Campbell, Wickham, McFadden, Colback, Vaughan, Bramble.

John O’Shea is out injured for the Black Cats but James McClean is recalled. The Canaries’ Irish pair Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington also begin.

The home side will have set out in their usual 4-2-3-1 with Grant Holt leading the line. Sunderland, meanwhile, go with Steven Fletcher up front in a 4-4-2.

We’re just three minutes in and Matthew Kilgallon has been shown the first yellow card from referee Phil Dowd after bundling over Holt. The free-kick is headed away and Danny Rose is then fouled.

Norwich 1-0 Sunderland (Sebastien Bassong)

Nice one-two between Steven Whittacker and Hoolahan earns Norwich another free. Robert Snodgrass whips in the delivery, which strikes Carlos Cuellar on the hand before Cameroon defender Bassong scores from close range. Eight minutes on the clock.

Bassong wins another header in the opposing box – but this time it’s well off-target. Sunderland yet to get started and are playing second fiddle at the moment.

Fletcher nods on to McClean and the Irish winger tries the spectacular with an overhead kick. It’s well side.

Stephane Sessegnon, one of several Sunderland players who have underperformed this term, shoots high and wild when he finds himself in a good position. They’ve scored just 12 goals in their first 13 games but won’t be adding to that with shots like that one.

Not a lot of flowing football on show here at the moment.

Here’s the goal which put Norwich into the lead:

YouTube credit: League1112

Seb Larsson rolls a corner to Rose, who is loitering on the edge of the box. The left-sided player connects well with the ball but his shot is too close to Mark Bunn and the goalkeeper pounces on it.

Great vision from Bradley Johnson to spot some space on the left for Javier Garrido to exploit. Sunderland’s stand-in captain Phil Bardsley has read the pass, however, and the danger is averted.

GOAL! Norwich 2-0 Sunderland (Anthony Pilkington)

That’s a super goal. Pilkington collects a pass out of defence, turns inside Cuellar and finishes emphatically into the bottom corner. Giovanni Trapattoni has been to watch both him and Hoolahan, and you can see why.

GOAL! Norwich 2-1 Sunderland (Craig Garnder)

They’ve pulled one back. Adam Johnson jinxes inside and lays off to Garnder, who strikes first time past Bunn and in off the post.

Half-time: Norwich 2-1 Sunderland

Martin O’Neill gives his players instructions. Credit: Steve Pond/EMPICS Sport

While we stick the kettle on, why not check out that goal from Pilkington:

YouTube credit: Aconi Montenegro

Martin O’Neill has been forced into a change. Steven Fletcher has picked up an ankle injury and is off for 19-year-old Conor Wickham.

It’s been a positive start to the second half from the visitors. Sessegnon gets to the end line and cuts back to the area which Wickham has made a run into. The substitute is about to pull the trigger but Ryan Bennett makes a vital interception.

Larsson with the Sunderland corner, McClean flicks on with his head at the front post and Cuellar’s attempt on goal is blocked. If Sunderland get one, you feel they would gain the confidence to go on and earn something from this.

Pilkington is clearly keen to add a second to his personal tally and forces Simon Mignolet into a smart save from 25 yards.

Moments later, Kilgallon is guilty of an awful miss down the other end. Gardner cracks the upright from his free-kick and the defender skies the rebound over the bar.

Bardsley is the lastest into Dowd’s book for a rash challenge on Hoolahan.

More pressure from Sunderland and Alex Tettey clears off the line when a punch from Bunn falls to Gardner. The Canaries stopper then keeps out Sessegnon.

Another Sunderland chance goes begging and Sessegnon is again the guilty party. Rose and Wickham break from midfield but the on-loan Tottenham winger can’t pick out his England U21 team-mate.

The ball is in the Sunderland net but it’s ruled offside. Rose catches a head clearance sweetly to volley at Mignolet. The Belgian spills it and Wickham follows up to prod home. It won’t count though.

Chance for Norwich. Elliott Bennett picks out Holt from a wide position but the striker is stretching and blazes over.

That’s the last we’ll see of James McClean this afternoon. The Irish winger, who has been okay but still isn’t at his best, makes way for Fraizer Campbell as Sunderland go in search of an equaliser.

Next to leave the field is Hoolahan. The Carrow Road faithful show their appreciation as the Dubliner is replaced by Johnny Howson. David Vaughn is also on for Larsson.

Rose goes down in the Norwich area but there’s no contact and Dowd is right to wave play on.

Just the four minutes of added time to play now.

Full-time: Norwich 2-1 Sunderland

Bunn saves a free-kick and that’s it. Norwich, eight games unbeaten now, jump ahead of Fulham into 12th while Sunderland are just a point off the drop zone.

It couldn’t help earn the Black Cats a share of the spoils in the end but Gardner’s second half goal is worth a watch:

YouTube credit: League1112

Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, Pilkington said: “I’m enjoying my football. It’s a massive win and we’re eight unbeaten now. We’re going in the right direction. If we keep playing the way we are mid-table will be a good strong finish for us.”