Marriner puts the whistle to his mouth and ends the match.
90' +3
The game slowly peters out as the Canaries are deflated by the third Sunderland goal.
90' +1
D. Watmore has scored a goal for Sunderland! Assist by S. Larsson.
Larsson makes a positive impact from the bench by sliding the ball into the feet of Watmore for his side's third.
GOAL! Sunderland kill the game off as Watmore notches their third goal with a neat finish. The winger collected Larsson's pinpoint pass and rounded Ruddy before knocking the ball into the net with his left foot.
90'
There will be four minutes of added time.
89'
Defoe latches on to a long ball over the top and has a foot race with Olsson to win possession. The forward gets a touch but cannot bring it under control, allowing the defender to get a foot to it, and Ruddy comes off his line to gather.
88'
Watmore breaks with pace through the middle, and has the opportunity to release Defoe once again, but he fails to find his team-mate as he goes down. Marriner dismisses his claims for a free-kick and Norwich come forward.
86'
Sunderland somehow leave themselves exposed at the back and Hoolahan tries to find space for a strike, but opts to square the ball into the feet of O'Neil. The midfielder goes for power, but sends his effort well over the bar.
85'
J. O'Shea enters the game and replaces J. Kirchhoff.
Final change for the Black Cats as O'Shea replaces the impressive Kirchhoff.
82'
The Canaries are flooding men forward into the box, but are not able to put the ball in the net. Sunderland are packing bodies on to the line, and Cattermole has made his umpteenth clearance from under his bar to get rid of the danger.
80'
CHANCE! Redmond is afforded space and time on the edge of the box and drills the ball at goal, but Mannone is there to tip the ball over the bar.
Minute
Description
77'
Norwich look bereft of ideas at the moment as two balls have travelled behind Mannone's goal. The Canaries need a moment of inspiration from somewhere or a Sunderland mistake.
74'
C. Jerome enters the game and replaces S. Naismith.
Last throw of the dice for Neil as he brings Jerome on to help his side find two goals.
72'
The Black Cats are trying desperately to take the pace out of the game. It seems to be working for now as before their goal was like the 'Alamo'.
70'
Larsson tries to make an impact with his first touch as he goes for goal from 30-yard free-kick, but can only send his strike wide of the post.
67'
S. Larsson enters the game and replaces Y. M'Vila.
Larsson comes on for M'Vila to aid Sunderland's defensive effort at the back.
66'
CHANCE! The Black Cats have a great chance to kill the game off as Watmore intercepts and drives forward. He has Defoe in support, but opts to go himself and eventually is forced to find M'Vila. The Frenchman then attempts to play in Defoe, but the striker is ruled offside.
65'
OFF THE LINE! Sunderland are all over the place at the back as they clear two efforts off the line in the space of seconds. First Kaboul is there to head away the danger, but his clearance only goes as far as O'Neil. The midfielder volleys at goal, but Cattermole is there to rescue his side once again.
63'
OFF THE LINE! Mbokani is played through the Sunderland defence, but Kone gets enough on his challenge to take the power off his attempted strike, while Cattermole mops up the danger by clearing the ball away.
62'
Redmond weaves his way down the right and sends the dipping cross towards the near post, which forces Mannone to tip the ball over the bar. Good awareness by the Italian.
60'
PENALTY SHOUT! Norwich want a penalty as Mbokani goes down under the challenge of Kaboul, but Marriner waves away their claims. It could have gone either way there.
59'
W. Hoolahan enters the game and replaces M. Jarvis.
M. Olsson gets yellow.
Hoolahan comes on to the pitch for Jarvis, who has been ineffectual this afternoon.
Olsson goes into the book, the second Norwich player to be carded.
58'
L. Cattermole gets yellow.
Cattermole goes into the book with a loose challenge on O'Neil.
CHANCE! A huge chance to put the game away for Sunderland as Defoe breaks beyond the Norwich defence, but he fails to see Borini and goes himself. The striker ends up losing possession and failing to test Ruddy. Watmore set up the opportunity with a fine run down the left.
56'
Redmond lifts the ball into a dangerous area of the box, but no yellow shirt can make contact and Mannone scampers off his line to claim.
55'
Norwich win a free-kick in a dangerous position as Cattermole brings down Redmond down the right.
53'
J. Defoe has scored a goal for Sunderland! Assist by F. Borini.
Borini produces quality when he needs to again by putting the ball on a plate for his team-mate.
GOAL!!!! Huge goal for Sunderland as they double their lead. Defoe notches his 13th league goal of the season displaying his predatory instincts to latch on to Borini's low cross into the box and poke home. The opportunity came from a mistake by Bassong as he attempted to clear and was robbed by Kirchhoff. The German laid the ball into the path of Borini, who teed up the England man, who slid home.
52'
Bassong drives forward from deep and is allowed to continue by Cattermole. The defender decides to take on the shot from 25 yards, but can only send his strike over the bar.
49'
OFF THE POST! Howson feeds Redmond 25 yards from goal and the winger lines up a strike which bounces before the target and slams into the post. So close to an equaliser for the Canaries.
47'
Norwich put the pressure on early in the half as Kone is forced to put the ball behind.
Mannone comes for O'Neil's corner but gets nowhere near the ball and Kirchhoff is able to scramble the danger away.
46'
D. Watmore enters the game and replaces W. Khazri.
N. Redmond enters the game and replaces R. Brady.
Nathan Redmond replaces Brady, who had a poor first-half for the Canaries.
We're back underway at Carrow Road.
Khazri makes way for Watmore at the break. The winger had been booked in the first-half.
45' +2
Defoe finds space in the final third once again and is allowed to turn to find Borini on the edge of the box. The Italian strikes the ball first time, but send his strike well over the bar.
Norwich win a free-kick as Kirchhoff is penalised for a foul on Mbokani. The Canaries send the ball forward, but the visitors clear as far as O'Neil on the edge, but Borini blocks his attempted strike. Marriner then blows his whistle to end the half.
45'
There will be two minutes of added time.
43'
Norwich respond with pressure down the right as Brady sends a cross to the near post, but no player in a yellow shirt is there and Mannone gathers. The Carrow Road crowd are not happy with Mr Marriner, but replays have shown the decision to be correct.
41'
Penalty goal scored by F. Borini for Sunderland!
Borini keeps his cool and sends his penalty beyond the reach of Ruddy into the bottom corner. A huge goal for the visitors in the context of the relegation battle.
40'
A. Wisdom gets yellow.
Wisdom is booked for his challenge on Borini.
39'
PENALTY TO SUNDERLAND! Sunderland break forward with Defoe and the forward sends a deep cross to the back post for Borini. The Italian takes the ball away from Wisdom, but gets brought down by the defender. Referee Marriner has no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
36'
Mbokani wins a flick-on and Brady breaks in behind the Sunderland defence, but Cattermole closes him down just before he can get an effort away and then pokes the ball behind for a corner.
34'
CHANCE! Cattermole links up well with Defoe and then sends Borini down the right flank. The Italian hits his cross first time towards the near post where Cattermole has continued his run. However, the midfielder can only scuff his strike wide of the post.
33'
Disappointing deliveries from Brady from the right as his two cross into the box are cleared by the Sunderland defence without too much trouble. Norwich need better from him this afternoon.
32'
W. Khazri gets yellow.
Khazri goes into the book for catching O'Neil with a late challenge.
30'
Yedlin's botched clearance lands at the feet of Naismith with space to raid into, but he chooses to send a first-time pass looking for the run of Brady. However, he gets his pass all wrong and Mannone is able to gather.
29'
Norwich are just beginning to take hold of the game again after Sunderland's burst 10 minutes ago. They seem to have adjusted their tactics and are starting to get in behind the Black Cats' full-backs.
27'
CHANCE! Sunderland clear their lines from the corner, but only as far as Olsson 30 yards from goal. The left-back lets fly from distance with a thunderous effort, but his strike is well saved by Mannone, who tips his strike over the bar. Great strike from Olsson, but a good save from the Sunderland keeper.
26'
CHANCE! Kaboul almost puts the ball into his own net as Brady beats Van Aanholt and Khazri with ease to send the ball across the face of goal. The Frenchman diverts the ball away from Mbokani, but Mannone is forced to react to punch the ball behind for a corner.
25'
Wisdom raids down the flank and beats the challenge of Van Aanholt with ease before sending a cross into the feet of Naismith. The Scot shoots at goal, but sees his effort blocked by Cattermole.
21'
CHANCE! A long ball over the top finds Defoe in space and this time he beats Ruddy to the ball. The keeper is forced to jockey as defenders stream back behind him, but Defoe's attempted pass to M'Vila on the edge of the box is intercepted, allowing the home side to clear.
19'
Borini gets on the end of a through ball from Cattermole in the final third, but he just cannot evade the trailing leg of Bassong as he tries to get past the Canaries defender. Sunderland are beginning to grow into the match.
17'
CHANCE! The visitors come close to taking the lead as Kirchhoff heads the ball into the path of Borini inside the box. The Italian takes a touch to put the ball on his right foot and then drives an effort across goal, only to see his strike go inches wide of the post.
16'
Sunderland do well to clear their lines from back-to-back corners from the home side as Brady's delivery put the Black Cats under immense pressure.
15'
The home side press again down the right flank and Kaboul is forced into action to send the ball behind as Naismith lurked on his shoulder.
13'
M'Vila takes a poor first touch and Brady gathers to send a dangerous cross to the back post. Mbokanki rises above Kaboul to head the ball at goal, but the header does not have the pace to trouble Mannone.
12'
M'Vila launches a long ball forward looking for the run of Defoe, and although the striker is left in a one-on-one battle for the ball, he takes a poor first touch which goes out for a goal-kick. Tough chance for the striker to take the ball out of the air.
11'
Khazri gives the ball away in a dangerous area of the pitch and Brady comes forward down the flank. He sends the ball into the feet of Mbokani, but the striker cannot find space to get an effort away before sending the ball out wide to Naismith. However, Sunderland get enough men back to clear the danger.
9'
Kaboul launches an early ball over the top of the Norwich defence, but it just has too much power on for Defoe to gather as Ruddy races off his line to claim just inside his box.
8'
Sunderland are offering very little in the final third at the moment, and seem quite content to allow Norwich to come at them in the early stages.
6'
Brady is allowed space and time on the edge of the box to turn his man. The winger opts to strike at goal from distance, but cannot generate enough power on his effort, and Mannone saves with ease.
5'
A good ball from Wisdom forces Kaboul to put the ball behind for a corner. Brady sends the ball into the box and O'Neil comes in unmarked at the back post, but he can only guide a tame effort into the legs of Yedlin.
4'
Bit of aggro down the right flank as Yedlin gets sent into the advertising boards by O'Neil. The Sunderland coaching staff are furious and begin an argy bargy with the Norwich players that come over, even Allardyce gets involved. However, the referee comes over to smooth the tensions.
3'
Jarvis sends a dangerous ball into the box and the Sunderland defence fail to clear as it bounces in the box. It travels through to the back post for Bennett, but he can't pull the trirgger, although the flag goes up for offside anyway. A let off for the visitors.
2'
Scrappy start to the game from Sunderland as they lose the ball in the final third and allow Norwich to break. Kirchhoff then brings down Mbokani down the left flank to give the Canaries an attacking platform.
1'
We're underway at Carrow Road.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between Norwich City and Sunderland at Carrow Road.
Matches don't come much bigger than this at the foot of the table as 17th plays 18th in the relegation fight. The Canaries have a four-point lead over Sam Allardyce's men coming into today's game and also home advantage, which could be crucial when the nerves begin to kick in ahead of the game.
Alex Neil's men have found their form just at the right time, taking seven points from their last four fixtures, although they did lose 1-0 last week to Crystal Palace through a Jason Puncheon strike. Norwich will feel that their destiny is in their own hands, and a victory today could well put them out of the reach of the Black Cats and Newcastle United.
Sunderland lost 2-0 to Leicester City last week, which ended a run of four games without defeat. Unfortunately for the Wearsiders all of those matches were draws, which meant that they were unable to pull away from the bottom three. Allardyce's side conceded late goals against Southampton and Newcastle that cost them four points, the difference between them and the Canaries as it stands in the table today. The 61-year-old has said that his team cannot afford to lose today, but the reality considering their run-in is that they have to target three points this afternoon.
The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.
Norwich have been forced into making one change from their 1-0 defeat to Palace last week. Timm Klose suffered a knee injury at Selhurst Park and was forced to leave the pitch on a stretcher has been ruled out, with Sebastien Bassong replacing him in the back four. The 29-year-old partners Ryan Bennett at centre-back with Andre Wisdom and Martin Olsson continuing at the full-back roles. Robbie Brady and Matt Jarvis will play a crucial roles on the wing this afternoon to provide ammunition for Dieumerci Mbokanki up front. Jonny Howson and Gary O'Neil have vast experience, but will face a massive challenge to control the middle of the park against Sunderland's combative midfielders, that contest could well decide the match.
Sunderland are unchanged from their defeat to Leicester last week as Allardyce names the same starting lineup for the third straight match. The back four has shown signs of improvement with Younes Kaboul and Lamine Kone in the heart of the defence, although they were exposed by the pace of Jamie Vardy last week. The Black Cats operate with three defensive midfield players in the form of skipper Lee Cattermole, Jan Kirchhoff and Yann M'Vila, while Fabio Borini and Wahbi Khazri operate on the flanks. Jermain Defoe leads the line and has scored 12 goals in the Premier League, what Allardyce would give for him to add another to the total this afternoon to guide his team to victory.
STAT ATTACK: Norwich are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches against Sunderland, including their 3-1 win at the Stadium of Light in the second game of the season.
The player are out on the pitch, so we should be underway shortly.
Referee watch: Today's man in the middle is Andre Marriner.
HALF-TIME: Norwich 0-1 Sunderland
The players are making their way back out on to the pitch for the second-half, so we should be underway shortly.
The first-half was far from a classic, but Sunderland are ahead at the break through Fabio Borini's spot-kick. Neither side were great in the final third, with both struggling for quality. However, the Black Cats were incisive on the break and Andre Wisdom's loose challenge presented the chance from 12 yards for the Italian. Borini scored a few crucial goals in Sunderland's miraculous escape under Gus Poyet, including a penalty in a win at Stamford Bridge. He showed composure again to fire his strike past John Ruddy to hand his side a crucial lead. We're poised for a fascinating second-half at Carrow Road.
FULL-TIME: Norwich 0-3 Sunderland
A huge win for Sunderland in their bid to escape the drop for the fourth season on the spin. They were clinical when they needed to be in the final third, and were resilient at the back with numerous important last-ditch challenges. Sam Allardyce will be elated with his side's performance, although they remain in the bottom three, one point behind Norwich. The Black Cats do have a game in hand over their rivals and with five matches remaining in the campaign, it is anyone's guess who will be condemned to life in the Championship. The Canaries will be devastated by this defeat as a victory would have all-but secured their top-flight status, but now face the prospect of sending the battle into the final weeks of the season. One interested party will have been Newcastle United, who would have probably been down had the Canaries won, but are now back in the fight ahead of their clash against Swansea this afternoon. What an ending to the season we have in prospect.
Thanks for joining our commentary this afternoon. Until next time, goodbye.
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