The Saturday-lunchtime contest on matchday 33 in the Premier League was a big one at the bottom as Norwich City took on Sunderland at Carrow Road.
A win for the home side would have moved them seven clear of the drop zone, but it went the other way as Sunderland emphatically won 3-0 to close the gap to throw the race to beat the drop wide open.
Relive all the action below with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates.
11.47amMorning morning! We've reached matchday 33 in the Premier League and it all starts at Carrow Road with a true six-pointer between Norwich and Sunderland. Before we break down all the pre-match trends and talking points, the team news is in...
11.50amNORWICH XI: Ruddy; Wisdom, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson; Jarvis, Howson, O'Neil, Brady; Naismith; Mbokani
Subs: Rudd, Jerome, Hoolahan, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Redmond, Pinto
Subs: Rudd, Jerome, Hoolahan, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Redmond, Pinto
11.53amSUNDERLAND XI: Mannone; Yedlin, Kaboul, Kone, Van Aanholt; Kirchhoff, M'Vila, Cattermole; Borini, Khazri; Defoe
Subs: Pickford, Jones, O'Shea, Larsson, Toivonen, Watmore, N'Doye
Subs: Pickford, Jones, O'Shea, Larsson, Toivonen, Watmore, N'Doye
11.56amBoth managers have near-fully fit squads to choose from, so no surprise to see few changes. Starting with Norwich, Alex Neil has been forced into just one change and it's a big one, with in-form defender Timm Klose not getting fit in time to play today after limping out of last week's 1-0 defeat at Palace. Sebastien Bassong comes in for him and surprisingly there's no Russell Martin in the squad at all today. Patrick Bamford also misses out altogether.
11.59amSam Allardyce, meanwhile, has gone with the same side that were beaten 2-0 at home by league leaders Leicester City last Sunday. The only news really is that Duncan Watmore returns to the bench having been out for over two months with ankle ligament damage.
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© Getty Images12.02pmGloomy day in the East of England today
We've arrived at Carrow Road - Ha'way! 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/FQto3wXOGj
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) April 16, 2016
12.05pmSo, now we know the teams let's take a closer look at the table. Norwich are the ones outside the bottom three at the moment, but they have played a game more than North-East rivals Sunderland and Newcastle below them. A win this lunchtime for the Canaries would move them seven points above Sunderland and nine ahead of Newcastle, who play Swansea later today.
12.08pmIf Norwich avoid defeat that will also confirm Aston Villa's relegation from the Premier League before they kick off against Manchester United at 3pm. The Villans are 15 points from safety with five matches to go and it would be remarkable if they survive another week by winning at Old Trafford.
12.10pm
3 - Sunderland have named an unchanged starting XI in 3 consecutive @premierleague games for first time since May 2014. Familiarity.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 16, 2016
12.13pmSo Allardyce must be quite happy with what he has seen in recent weeks, but the Black Cats are now winless in six Premier League matches, picking up just four points in that time. With only six games remaining, the run-ins are being examined and Sunderland's is pretty tough...
12.16pmWith their three home matches against Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton, away games at Norwich, Stoke City and Watford might be their best chances of victory in the remaining weeks of the campaign. However, Sunderland have won just three of their last 27 Premier League away matches (W3 D9 L15) and kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 league matches on the road. Things have to change!
12.19pmIf Sunderland are to beat the drop, they will need Jermain Defoe on top form in attack. The former Spurs man has netted nine goals in 13 away appearances in the Premier League this season and has nine more goals than any other Black Cats player overall.
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© Getty Images12.22pmMoving on to Norwich, Alex Neil's side had their mini-revival halted last time out when they lost away at Crystal Palace, becoming the first team since Christmas to lose to the Eagles in the league. Still, had you offered the Canaries a four-point cushion going into this match a month ago they would have bitten your hand off.
12.25pm
Warm-ups well under way ahead of kick-off pic.twitter.com/gu0znfq876
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) April 16, 2016
12.28pmAllardyce has just reiterated his pre-match thoughts in an interview with BT Sport. Although the table suggests this is a must-win game for the Black Cats, he believes that it is more important not to lose. Interesting.
12.30pmH2H: The reverse meeting between the two was way back in August on the second weekend of the season, with Sunderland losing 3-1 at home to compound their poor start to the season.
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© Getty Images12.33pmIn fact, Norwich have lost none of their last five Premier League meetings with Sunderland (W3 D2 L0) and won their last five league matches at home against the Black Cats. The last time Sunderland won here in the league was a 3-1 top-flight triumph in March 1985.
12.35pmAllardyce is cautious of going all out for the three points, but it sounds like opposite number Neil is desperate for three points today:
Alex Neil: "It's probably the most important game this season. The message to the players is to go and win." #NORSUN pic.twitter.com/IFYwPgpWKB
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 16, 2016
12.38pmPREDICTION: Kickoff almost upon us here at Carrow Road, so I had best pick my scoreline for the match. With Allardyce constantly drumming home the point that he does not want to lose, I think a draw is the most likely outcome and I'll go 1-1.
12.41pmHere come the two teams out of the tunnel. The tension is almost tangible at Carrow Road. What a big game this is!
12.43pmBoth sides in their home colours today
Ready to go at a packed Carrow Road. Great atmosphere inside the ground pic.twitter.com/tuTvkQkhJc
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) April 16, 2016
0 minKICKOFF! Today's referee is Andre Marriner and he gets us underway!
2 minGreat start by the home side. They win a free kick out on the left and although O'Neil's ball isn't great, Naismith gets there first and flicks on into the danger area. The offside flag is up, but the ball almost dropped kindly for a Norwich player.
4 minHANDBAGS! Hmmmm, what's going on here? Allardyce isn't happy with a challenge right in front of the the dugout and he squares up to some Norwich players on the touchline, hauling Canaries sub Cameron Jerome out of the way.
6 minBizarre marking from Sunderland as they leave Howson all alone at the back post. Brady picks him out, but the former's first-time volley is blocked. Moments later it's Brady who has a speculative attempt from about 25 yards that Mannone saves easily. Really good start by Norwich.
8 minBoth teams up for this one!
Tempers boiling over in the opening few minutes as both sides know what's at stake. #NORSUN pic.twitter.com/HHEDBImdq4
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) April 16, 2016
10 minIt looks like Defoe might be in behind for a minute, but the ball just skips off the turf and runs through to Ruddy.
12 minLoose pass from Khazri presents Brady with the ball. He runs forward and to the edge of the box, where Mbokani takes it off him before Norwich's attack eventually fizzles out.
13 minBrady's deep cross is well met by Mbokani, but Kaboul does enough to put him off and make the header a weak one. Easy stop for Mannone. Norwich still doing all the pressing here.
18 minCLOSE! After a couple of minutes under the cosh, Sunderland go ever so close. Borini reaches Kircchoff's flick on and Borini's cross-cum-shot somehow goes across the six-yard box without getting a touch. Defoe not quite there.
21 minAll of a sudden, the Black Cats look dangerous. Borini looks lively down the right and just failed to get his feet sorted in the box a moment ago.
22 minCHANCE! This time it's Defoe who gets in behind for the visitors. He beats Ruddy to the ball but then gets squared up by the keeper so looks for a teammate in the middle, but Norwich get back and survive. Good chance that, but credit to Rudy for not going down.
25 minSo Norwich have had more possession and the only two shots on target, but you would probably say that Sunderland have gone closest.
26 minSAVE! Scratch that! Mannone makes a vital save to prevent Kaboul scoring an own goal from Brady's cross.
27 minSAVE! Ping! What a hit from Olsson! The corner dropped the left-back's way and he rifled a first-time volley towards the top corner that Mannone acrobatically tips over.
29 minSunderland had a good few minutes, but Norwich are back on top now as Jarvis gets away down the right but crosses straight into the arms of Mannone. The Sunderland keeper has been busy so far!
32 minBig groans from the home support after Naismith badly overhit a through-ball to Jarvis. The Scot had plenty of time to pick that out but wasted it.
32 minBOOKING! First yellow card shown by Marriner is for Khazri, who caught O'Neil nastily on the ankle.
35 minCHANCE! Not an easy one, but Cattermole will be disappointed. He picked out Borini on the right and then continued his run into the box. The Italian picked him out but the feisty midfielder could only shoot well over on the half-volley.
37 minThe home fans want a penalty but Cattermole just eased Jarvis off the ball. The latter has had a bright match so far in the engine room.
40 minPENALTY TO SUNDERLAND!
40 minWow! Don't think many people saw this one coming, but replays show that it was the correct call. Wisdom went over the ball and planted his studs right into Borini's ankles. The Norwich defender is booked.
41 minGOAL! NORWICH 0-1 SUNDERLAND (FABIO BORINI, PEN.)
41 minThe Italian gets up and sticks the spot kick right in the corner. Norwich have been the better team for much of the match, but they're behind in this huge game.
42 min"You're not fit to referee!" scream the Norwich supporters, but when they see the highlights later they'll realise that it was the correct call.
44 minDelia's fuming with that decision
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© Getty Images45+1 minTwo minutes of added time before the break.
45+2 minHuge cheer from the home support as Marriner gives Norwich a free kick for Kirchhoff's barge on Mbokani.
45+3 minHALF-TIME: NORWICH 0-1 SUNDERLAND
1.32pmIt's Sunderland who lead in this massive match then thanks to Borini's penalty five minutes before half time. The Norwich fans are fuming, but when they check their phones at half time they'll see that it was the correct call by Marriner and a really good one at that. What a huge 45 minutes we have ahead of us now. We'll be back for it in no time, stay there!
46 minSUBS: Both managers make a change out wide, with Redmond on for Brady for Norwich and Watmore taking Khazri's place for Sunderland.
46 minKICKOFF! We're back underway. Can Norwich come back from behind to win a league game for the first time this season? Would be a great time to do it!
48 minAs they did in the first half, Norwich are on the front foot here. Half-hearted appeals for a penalty from a corner but Marriner was never likely to blow up for the tussles that go on at a set piece.
48 minOFF THE POST! So close! Redmond has been bright since coming on and just pinged a low 25-yard shot against the post. Great effort and unlucky to not see it find the net.
50 minSo it's still Borini's 41st-minute penalty which separates us at Carrow Road. Norwich done exactly what they needed to since half time apart from score, though.
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© Getty Images52 minBassong scored a fantastic late goal in the barmy game against Liverpool a little earlier this year and he's just tried his luck from a long way out, but it flies over the top. Well-hit, but Mannone knew it was going over all the way.
53 minGOAL! NORWICH 0-2 SUNDERLAND (JERMAIN DEFOE)
53 minTen goals in 14 away league appearances now for Defoe as he punishes a bad mistake by Bassong. The Norwich defender was robbed of the ball by Kirchhoff, who fed Borini down the right and the Italian then produced a fine cross that Defoe managed to stab home at the back post.
55 minInterestingly, replays show that Kirchhoff may have fouled Bassong to win the ball back for the goal. Still, it was unnecessary dilly-dallying from the centre-back and he was duly punished. All to do for Norwich now.
57 minCattermole wipes out Redmond down the right and the resulting free kick looks perfect for Naismith, but it's just too high for the blonde Scot.
58 minCHANCE! It should be three! Watmore wins the ball back high up the pitch and manages to stab it into the path of Defoe. Norwich get back, but if Defoe looked up he would have seen Borini in acres of space and the latter would have surely scored.
59 minBOOKING! Cattermole's run of nine games without a yellow card comes to an end as he goes in studs-up on O'Neil.
60 minNORWICH SUB: Second Canaries change as Hoolahan comes on for Jarvis.
62 minIt's all Norwich at the moment. They want another penalty but you have to say that once again Marriner has made the right call as Mbokani fell too easily. Then, seconds later, Wisdom almost catches out Mannone with a cross that the Italian has to tip over the bar.
63 minOFF THE LINE! Mbokani fails to get off a good shot under pressure from Kone, but the ball somehow squirms past Mannone and it would have crept over the line had Cattermole not got back and cleared away.
65 minOFF THE LINE! Twice more Sunderland clear off the line! Again it's Cattermole in position to prevent Mbokani's looped header dropping in before Hoolahan's volley from the rebound is also kept out. Hanging on here Sunderland!
66 minEnd-to-end stuff! Sunderland break forward through Watmore but he can't find Defoe thanks to some good position by Olsson. The former eventually passes to M'Vila but the Frenchman's attempted ball to Defoe finds the striker offside. They messed that up badly.
67 minSUNDERLAND SUB: And that's M'Vila's last contribution as he is replaced by Larsson.
70 minThe Black Cats' goalscorers celebrate their second
© AFP
© AFP71 minFree kick to Sunderland about 30 yards out and Larsson fancies it, but he curls it wide of the mark.
74 minNORWICH SUB: Third and final change for the hosts as Naismith is replaced by Cameron Jerome.
76 minSo as it stands with Sunderland winning, they are set to close within a point of Norwich with a game in hand still. Newcastle are six adrift of the Canaries but they have two games in hand so could also move within a win of Norwich if they beat Swansea today. It's going to go down to the wire!
78 minCHANCE! Lovely pass from Defoe to find Watmore's run and the substitute just overruns it as he tried to round Ruddy.
81 minSAVE! Mannone denies Norwich again, with Redmond's shot palmed up and out for a corner by the Italian.
83 minBassong throws a strop on the turf after feeling that he was pushed in the box, but once again there was not enough contact there for me. Norwich fans will leave today thinking that they have been hampered by Marriner's performance, but he has got most of the big calls right.
85 minSUNDERLAND SUB: Kirchhoff, who has been excellent in the middle, is replaced by O'Shea. Allardyce shoring up the backline.
89 minNorwich obviously have to throw everything forward and Defoe is staying up for Sunderland. He almost gets away, but Olsson gets back really well to make a challenge and deny the striker.
90+1 minGOAL! NORWICH 0-3 SUNDERLAND (DUNCAN WATMORE)
90+1 minThis one's over folks! Watmore squeezes a shot under Ruddy after a fine pass from Van Aanholt. Massive win for Sunderland.
90+3 minThere are four added minutes to play, by the way.
90+5 minFULL-TIME: NORWICH 0-3 SUNDERLAND
2.37pmWhat a huge win that is for the Black Cats and it means a six-goal swing in the goal difference between the two teams as well. Sunderland are now just a point behind the Canaries, with a game in hand, and they have a goal difference that is seven better. Could play a part!
2.39pmClick here to see how the table looks now ahead of the rest of this weekend's matches. Sunderland still 18th and this result is a good result for Newcastle as well. They take on Swansea this afternoon and you can follow that and the rest of the matches by heading back to the homepage. Enjoy!
