Read about the key battle areas ahead of the Sunderland v Newcastle derby

It's a big day in the North East of England on Sunday with the Wear-Tyne derby. No matter where the two teams are in the league, this match is huge. I think it's a actually intensified with the fact that the two teams are in lowly league positions, although Newcastle will feel a little less pressure than Sunderland after getting their first win under their belts with a 6-2 home win over Norwich City at the weekend. Both teams have a new manager (at Sunderland, though we are in a permanent state of having a new manager) and both managers will have a point to prove. Both managers will have a point to prove to the Newcastle United fans after Big Sam Allardyce's failed tenure at St James Park in the past and Steve McClaren's lacklustre start.

The fact of the matter is that Sunderland have a recent hold over the Magpies with five wins in a row, and home advantage on Sunday. The passion of the home fans, if the home team is in the game, is a massive boost for either of these clubs. The fans are immense and the support that they give their players both home and away is up there with the best in the game.

What will be the deciding factors?

Discipline

I think that the team that keeps their head will stand a much better chance of winning this one. With Colback, Cattermole, Tiote and M'Villa potentially all playing in the centre of midfield there's bound to be a lot of tackles flying in and there will almost certainly be yellow cards galore. Players having to think twice about a challenge for fear of a second booking can turn the game, especially if it's tight,

Goals

I know it seems obvious that goals will decide a game but until the six that they scored against a poor Norwich team, Newcastle had struggled to find the net. Sunderland still struggle to find the net. So it's a match where chances will mean so much more. Will Wijnaldum keep up his goalscoring form from the last match? Will Allardyce disagree with previous manager Advocaat and play Jermain Defoe up front on his own? The answers to these questions will also provide answer to the question "who will win the match?"

The fans

I've mentioned it before but I think that after a rough time for both clubs recently, the fans will be in great voice. Both sets of fans will be looking forward to this match immensely and there will be a crackle of excitement around the cities for the next few days. Thierry Henry was amazed by the atmosphere in the stadium in last years match at the Stadium of Light. But this excitement can go the other way. Fans of both clubs can get on the players backs if things start to go wrong for the team. Sunderland fans have made a habit of leaving the stadium before half-time in recent seasons, while Newcastle fans have been hugely critical of the owner and his cronies. If Newcastle start well then the home fans can quickly get under the skin of the players and you can see the confidence drain away.

I can see this one being really close and a lucky bounce or mistake settling it. I'm not sure which way, but I can see another 1-0.

Silly season

We're in the off season and fast approaching the opening of the transfer window. With the season seemingly starting earlier every year (8th August is the first round of Premier League fixtures this time) and ore-season tours to all parts of the globe, my view is that teams should get their business done early.

It's surprising to me how long it takes to pull a transfer together. If you take the point in time that a rumour first surfaces as the starting point, then we often see the process take over a month to come to fruition. Take my own club Sunderland and their reported pursuit if Carl Jenkinson. Reports linking us to a right back have gone in every Summer and January for years. This time, the interest in Jenkinson started about 3 weeks ago, according to reports. A loan fee of £1.5million has been widely reported, as has interest from West Ham and Southampton. Now the Saints bought a new right back yesterday so may nick longer be after Jenkinson. From my understanding of business, the situation from the outside looks like the player has a choice of clubs, probably dependent on speaking to the managers and then a medical and a deal can be done. But these things tend to drag out for weeks.

Deadline day seems to be the only thing that concentrates the minds of all the respective parties to get the deal done.

The rumours this season, as always, rest around the players from clubs just outside of the top teams who had a great season last year. Nathaniel Clyne is highly sought after, and Southampton's new right back sends hints that he's about to leave. Liverpool are reported to be front of the queue, but Manchester United could do with a quality right back.

The Danny Ings saga has finished with Liverpool beating off reported competition from Real Sociedad, Bayern Munich and a host of English clubs.

Charlie Austin is another English goalscorer who will be in demand all over the Premier League. Newcastle and West Ham needs goals and would ha e the resources for the transfer fee and his wages.

We shall see.