Good evening everyone! We've got a bumper schedule of midweek Premier League action and at the Stadium of Light today the focus will be on events in the bottom half of the table, as Sunderland take on managerless Queens Park Rangers.

The Black Cats have endured a frustrating season, but in the past few weeks there have been signs that they are heading for a strong finish. They did well to earn a point against Swansea at the weekend and they know that three points this evening could move them seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Making the trip to the North East are a QPR side who have lost all 11 of their league matches this season. It really has been a terrible campaign for them on the road and if that streak continues today then it will be their sixth defeat on the bounce.

Right, before we go any further, it's time to have a look at who will be playing this evening, beginning with the starting lineup from the hosts.

SUNDERLAND XI: Pantilimon, Reveillere, Vergini, O'Shea, Van Aanholt, Bridcutt, Larsson, Gomez, Johnson, Wickham, Defoe

QPR XI: Green, Isla, Caulker, Ferdinand, Yun Suk-young, Henry, Barton, Phillips, Fer, Kranjcar, Zamora

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Mannone, Brown, Coates, Agnew, Alvarez, Graham, Fletcher

QPR SUBS: McCarthy, Traore, Hill, Doughty, Wright-Phillips, Taarabt, Zarate

TEAM NEWS: So, that's how each side lines up today. The hosts are able to welcome back Connor Wickham, who has recovered from a calf injury. He will join Jermain Defoe up front, with Danny Graham dropping to the bench. Meanwhile, QPR are without top-scorer Charlie Austin, who suffered a bruised foot at the weekend. It means that Bobby Zamora leads the attack, while there is also a start in defence for Rio Ferdinand.

Let's get back to our build up to today's match by taking a close look at each side. It's certainly been a mixed campaign for the Black Cats, who are seemingly involved in another relegation scrap. They are just four points above the relegation zone, but a win today would certainly ease their fears of going down.

They haven't played particularly badly throughout the course of the season, aside from a couple of thrashings at the hands of Southampton and Manchester City. Their main problem has been turning stalemates into wins, with their tally of 12 draws the highest in the league this season.

In total, they have lost seven league games, which is the best out of any team in the bottom half of the table. One of their weaknesses has been finding the back of the net, as their top scorers in the league are Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson with just four strikes apiece.

That makes the arrival of Jermain Defoe last month all the more crucial for Gus Poyet's side in the last few months of the season. The England international has scored in his last two league games against Burnley and Swansea and he seems to have lost none of his killer instinct after his time in the MLS with Toronto.

If the Black Cats do manage to pick up a vital win today, then they could be seven points above the bottom three, depending on what happens in Hull and Aston Villa's match. It would also be the first time that they have claimed successive home league wins this season.

While Sunderland's home form may not be great, it is a whole lot better than that of QPR's away record. The R's have not picked up a single point, losing all 11 of their games away from Loftus Road and you have got to feel sorry for the fans who have made the long trips each week for no reward.

QPR would certainly be cut adrift at the bottom of the table if they hadn't picked up all of their 19 points in West London. Based on just home form, Rangers are 10th in the table and they have earned just five less points than Arsenal and Manchester City have in their own grounds.

It remains to be seen just how QPR will do now following the exit of Harry Redknapp, who stepped down from his position last week. Chris Ramsey has since taken temporary charge and he was unfortunate to see his side fall to a 1-0 defeat against Southampton at the weekend, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Sadio Mane.

When the teams met earlier this season, it was QPR who claimed the three points. A goal from Charlie Austin at the end of the first half was enough to settle the match and give the R's their first victory of the campaign. They will surely miss Austin tonight, as he has bagged 13 of their 24 league goals.

The Hoops may have won their last two games against the Black Cats, but they are winless in their last six visits to the Stadium of Light. In all the previous meetings between the two teams there has been no clear side dominating, with Sunderland claiming 13 wins and QPR earning 12 victories.

PREDICTION: It's hard to imagine a team going through the whole season without even a single point away from home, but I don't see QPR's struggles ending this evening. In recent weeks their form at Loftus Road seems to have deserted them too and Redknapp's departure has only added to the turmoil. Meanwhile, Sunderland looked to have improved and they will be confident of putting together a decent run of form. That's why I'm going to tip the Black Cats to claim all the points, with a 2-1 win this evening.

With about five minutes to go until kick off make sure you have a quick look at our video preview of tonight's match!

Both teams are now out on the pitch and going through the pre-match formalities, with the start of the game just a few moments away.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stadium of Light!

QPR have made a very bright start to the match and they are looking confident on the ball. They have pushed Sunderland back right on the edge of their own box as they look to take the contest to the home side.

The visitors continue their decent opening and they have the first attempt on goal. They manage to win a free kick on the right that is whipped into the box by Kranjcar. Zamora rises to meet it and gets in a header, but his effort ends up going well wide of the post.

Sunderland just haven't got going and they have given the ball away cheaply a few times. On this occasion they are almost made to pay as Fer wins possession, before sliding in Zamora who sees his snap-shot deflect behind for a corner.

It's a very subdued crowd at the Stadium of Light and they have not been given anything to cheer following their side's start to the match. QPR are still seeing all of the ball and they have not really come under too much pressure.

SHOT! The Black Cats continue their dominance by having their fifth shot of the evening. Fer has the chance as he is not closed down around 25 yards out from goal and fires in a powerful strike. It was well hit, but it was straight down the middle and Pantilimon easily claims.

CHANCE! Finally the home side put a decent move together with Reveillere getting in down the right. He then whips a great ball to the back post for his fellow full back Van Aanholt, but the Dutchman can't control his volley and blazes high over the bar.

QPR have made a great start to the game and they deservedly score the opening goal. Phillips does well to make space down the right and he then whips in a fine cross that is powerfully headed into the corner by Fer. Are QPR on their way to their first points away from home?

The fans are really starting to make their feelings known and after another pass goes astray they let out a collective jeer. It will certainly be music to the away side's ears, as they look to build upon their lead.

Gus Poyet must be so disappointed at how his team have performed in this first half. They are finding it hard to string two or three passes together and they haven't posed a threat at all. Green has had nothing to do so far, with Wickham and Defoe receiving barely any service.

CHANCE! QPR have looked especially threatening in the air and once again they find acres of space down the right. It's Isla who plays in the cross, with Phillips arriving late to power in a header, but he directs his effort over the bar.

OFF THE POST! What a massive chance this is for QPR to double their lead. Fer is picked out on the edge of the box and looks to guide a low shot into the corner, but his strike comes back off the post with Pantilimon well beaten!

CHANCE! Sunderland were almost two goals down a few moments ago, but they really should be level now. Gomez whips in a great low cross from the left that Defoe meets at the front post, but the striker puts his strike wide under pressure from Green. You would really expect a player of his international quality to have scored from there.

YELLOW CARD! Zamora picks up the first booking of the evening for heading the ball out of Pantilimon's hands, as the keeper looked to kick the ball clear.

SAVE! Green has not had much to do, but he makes a wonderful save here. Van Aanholt whips a great ball to the back post that Wickham heads goalwards. It seems that a goal is certain, but Green manages to palm his effort onto the bar, with the defence then scrambling the ball clear.

SHOT! Van Aanholt tries his luck with a low drive from range that heads wide of the far post. Even though it wasn't the greatest of strikes, it is a further sign that the Black Cats have finally woken up after a really poor start to the evening.

YELLOW CARD! Larsson is the second player to be shown a card this evening for a foul on Barton.

It does seem as if QPR will be able to hold onto their lead as we aproach half time, despite the improvement from the hosts. They have still struggled to get in behind and Wickham's chance is as close as they have come so far.

We are going to have one minute of stoppage time.

Take a bow Bobby Zamora! The striker finds the net with a superb half volley into the top corner after connecting with a cross from Phillips. It was a truly brilliant hit and it means that the R's will head into the break with a stunning two-goal lead!

Hands up who saw that coming? QPR have not picked up a single point away from home in the Premier League all season, yet they are 2-0 up at half time. They have been great this evening, against a Sunderland side who have been poor from the start.

As things stand, QPR are set to move out of the relegation zone. Victory here would see them move onto 22 points and level with Aston Villa, who currently trail Hull 1-0 at half time in their match at the KC.

Let's take a look at the stats from that first half which was dominated by the visitors. QPR have had 54% of the ball and a total of 13 efforts on goal. Sunderland have managed seven shots, but only one of those tested Green.

Sunderland take the kick off and get the second half started!

SUBSTITUTION: I can tell you that the hosts have made a change at the break, with Alvarez coming on for Gomez.

Sunderland have made a much better start than they did in the opening 45 minutes. They are seeing plenty of the ball in some decent positions out wide, but the final delivery into the box is still missing.

SUBSTITUTION: QPR are going to make their first change of the match, with Sean Wright-Phillips replacing Matt Phillips. This will be his first Premier League appearance for a couple of years.

It just isn't happening for the hosts at the moment, with nothing going their way. Their passing has been poor and QPR are looking very comfortable on the ball.

Alvarez has not done too much since the break, but the Argentine cuts in from the left and works space for a shot. He then drills in a low effort towards the near post, but it lacks the power to seriously trouble Pantilimon.

QPR have a decent chance to grab a third goal when they win a free kick just outside of the box. We all know that Kranjcar can strike a fine set piece, but this time the Croatian fires his effort straight into the wall before scuffing the follow up well wide.

SUBSTITUTION: The Black Cats are forced into a change here as Reveillere heads off with an injury and Brown comes on to replace him.

SAVE! Green made a brilliant save in the first half and he makes another superb stop here. A low cross is whipped in from the left and Defoe arrives to meet it in the middle. He looks odds on to score, but his strike is beaten away by Green. The keeper may not have been too busy, but when called into action he has been fantastic.

SAVE! It's end to end at the moment and Sunderland lead the chrage with Alvarez bursting clear down the right. He then cuts inside the fires in a strike looking for the far corner, but once again Green is there to tip his effort behind for a corner.

SUBSTITUTION: Ferdinand is the latest player to be shown a card for hauling down Defoe.

QPR have a real worry here as Fer is down and receiving treatment. He went down awkwardly following a challenge with Bridcutt and it looks as if he will have to be taken off.

SUBSTITUTION: Sadly Fer departs the pitch on a stretcher, with Zarate coming on to replace him.

YELLOW CARD! Barton is shown his seventh consecutive yellow card for dragging back Johnson.

CHANCE! Sunderland are pushing hard for a goal that may give them some hope in the final minutes and Alvarez almost creates a chance with some great skill on the byline. He tricks his way past his marker and delivers a great low ball across the box, but none of his teammates were there to make contact and the chance goes to waste.

SUBSTITUTION: Fletcher is coming on for the final minutes in place of Wickham.

SUBSTITUTION: QPR are making their final change of the match and it's a Premier League debut for Doughty, who replaces Isla.

It looks as if QPR have done enough to claim the points, with only a few minutes of the game left. They are just passing it around confidently between their midfielders and making sure that they don't give away any cheap passes.

We are going to have five minutes of stoppage time.

SHOT! This would have made the remaining moments of the game interesting. Larsson is found in space on the edge of the box and he fires in a low strike. However, Ferdinand is there to make the block and put the ball behind for a corner.

It's taken them 12 games, but Queens Park Rangers have finally picked up a victory away from home in the Premier League. Leroy Fer and Bobby Zamora's first half goals have been enough to end their dreadful run and lift them out of the bottom three!

Well, I'm afraid that's all we've got time for here. There's more live coverage tomorrow, with six midweek league matches to come. Until then, goodbye!