Hello and thanks for joining me this afternoon at St James' Park. Both sides lost last weekend and will be hoping to return to winning ways in the North East today.

Before we delve any further, let's take a look at the team news.

Newcastle United starting XI: Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett; Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Wijnaldum; Perez, Mitrovic

Stoke City starting XI: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Whelan, Adam; Shaqiri, Bojan Arnautovic; Walters

Newcastle United subs: Woodman, Cisse, De Jong, Gouffran, Lascelles, Haidara, Thauvin

Stoke City subs: Haugaard, Ireland, Wilson, Afellay, van Ginkel, Diouf, Crouch

Newcastle have made just one change, as Vurnon Anita comes into the starting XI to replace Jack Colback, who will miss up to six weeks with a knee injury picked up last weekend.

The big news for Stoke City is that club captain Ryan Shawcross makes his first league start of the season. He played in the penalty-shootout victory over Chelsea in midweek and has retained his place today.

Jon Walters's goalscoring exploits in the week has seen him retain his place upfront, while Glen Johnson and Erik Pieters regain their places at full-back. Xherdan Shaqiri and Bojan are the other players to come back into the side as Mark Hughes makes five changes in total.

Back to Newcastle, who are able to field captain Fabricio Coloccini despite his red card last weekend. He was sent off for a foul on Steven Fletcher, but it has since been overturned.

In fact, the loss last weekend was so bad for the Magpies that Steve McLaren penned an open letter to their fans apologising for their performance!

The Tyne-Wear derby defeat came off the back of Newcastle's only league win of the season so far and it was a thumping victory. Georginio Wijnaldum scored four goals in a comprehensive 6-2 victory over Norwich City at St James' Park, but a week is a long time in football!

Stoke also lost last weekend and the 2-0 defeat at home to Watford came as somewhat of a shock. The Potters had won three games in a row prior to the loss and were building a good run of form.

However, they bounced back in fine form to reach the quarter-finals of the League Cup with a penalty-shootout victory over Chelsea in midweek.

There's still more than 20 minutes until kickoff, so have a listen to Sports Mole's podcast previewing today's game:

if you like what you hear, hit the subscribe button!

If that's still not enough to whet your appetite, then take a look at the Sports Mole gang having a natter about the game in this video:

UPDATE: well, Stoke beat Chelsea in midweek and now Liverpool have become the latest side to condemn Jose Mourinho's men to more misery. Jurgen Klopp has led the Reds to a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge and here is Danielle Joynson's on-the-whistle full-time report.

Steve McLaren has warned his side that they must take their chances today if they are to take anything from the game. I'm sure he'd love another repeat of the Norwich game a fortnight ago...

One man who has certainly taken his chances in Jon Walters. The forward was linked with a move away from Stoke in the summer, but he scored in midweek and Mark Hughes has rewarded him with a place upfront today. Hughes said a couple of days ago that he does want to keep the Republic of Ireland international.

Although Mark Hughes has faith in Jon Walters, he has warned his side to expect a backlash from Newcastle today.

The game will start in just a few minutes, so there's for me to make a fool out of myself with a prediction. There have been 18 goals in Newcastle's last three matches and I'm expecting more today! I'm going to plump for a 3-1 Stoke victory. Sorry Newcastle fans!

KICKOFF: Here we go! Stoke get us underway in a loud St James' Park!

It's been a frenetic start! Stoke went immediately down one end, only for Shaqiri to be crowded out and then Wijnaldum's break was halted by a cynical Johnson foul.

SAVE! It's a good start by Newcastle and Perez cuts inside from the left flank and sends a low shot towards goal. It's weak, in truth, but Butland has to drop to his knees to gather.

PENALTY SHOUT! Well, well, well! Bojan squares up Dummett on the far side and skips past him with ease. As the full-back tries to get back, he seems to bundle Bojan over on the edge of the box, but the referee waves play on. Stoke are not happy with the decision!

Bojan shows too much of the ball to Sissoko, who leads a Newcastle charge. Stoke get back in numbers, but Wollscheid has to throw himself in front of Mitrovic's effort to deflect it over the bar.

From the corner, Mbemba heads well wide of the near post, but it's been a vibrant start by the hosts.

I've just had a second glance at the Dummett collision with Bojan and the Newcastle man certainly clipped his heels, but the initial contact took place just outside the area.

Johnson's wayward cross comes all the way through to Arnautovic on the left wing, but he is crowded out by Sissoko and Janmaat, who double up well on the tricky winger.

Sissoko flashes a cutback into the area from the byline, but he pulls it behind Mitrovic and Perez. Good approach play by Newcastle, but a poor final product.

Stoke are really struggling to get out of their own half. Arnautovic has just sent a wayward cross into the arms of Elliot, who sets Newcastle off on another attack and the hosts win a corner.

It's a short corner to Anita, who hits it high over everyone's head and Mbemba has to make a sliding recovery tackle to prevent Walters from receiving the ball. It's now a Stoke corner.

Johnson's far-post header is cut out by Mbemba again at the expense of a second Stoke corner.

Shawcross's looping header gives Elliot a difficult challenge of claiming under pressure, which he does at the second attempt.

CLOSE! Walters comes within inches of giving Stoke the lead! Adam's teasing cross from the left should be dealt with by Mbemba, but the defender slices at thin air. It catches Walters by surprise, who can't sort his feet out in time to tap into an empty net. That was a huge chance!

Sissoko blasts another wayward pass over the head of Mitrovic as the ball sails out for a throw-in in the right-back position for Stoke.

UPDATE: A reminder that Sports Mole has coverage from the Rugby World Cup final this afternoon and the build-up has already begun here.

Mitrovic peels off Johnson and takes a sumptuous first touch before forcing Butland into a good save, but the flag had already been raised. Great footwork from the big forward though.

Arnautovic takes a risk by slamming a clearance through his own area, but he gets lucky and it deflects into the path of Walters. Stoke waste the opportunity to break though.

UPDATE: There are no goals in any of the Premier League games after 25 minutes of first-half action.

Perez tries to squeeze it through a gap for Sissoko, but the midfielder gives away a needless foul as he shoves Pieters in the back.

Shaqiri nearly works a shooting opportunity after a neat one-two with Arnautovic on the edge of the box, but the ball bobbles off his knee and Newcastle clear.

OFF THE POST! Newcastle are agonisingly close to an opener! Sissoko's delightful inswinging cross is glanced towards goal by Mitrovic, but the header cannons back off the inside of the post and Wijnaldum is flagged for offside as he tries to scramble home the rebound.

It's been an incredibly disjointed opening half an hour for Stoke, which is summed up by two terrible passes by Adam and Whelan.

Tiote's slip on the halfway line is almost capitalised on by Bojan, but Mbemba makes two terrific challenges to bail out his teammate. Superb timing in both of the tackles he made.

Mitrovic is as strong as an ox. He holds off the Stoke defender on the halfway line before attempting to pick out a teammate, but the ball hit the referee. However, play has been brought back for a foul on the striker.

Mitrovic squares a cross into the six-yard box but Stoke do enough to clear and break, but the move breaks down as Johnson's heavy touch gifts Coloccini the ball.

What a waste. Stoke have Newcastle penned on the edge of their box for the first time in a while, but Adam blasts a terrible shot high over the bar. Incredibly greedy.

It's Newcastle with a penalty shout this time as Perez jinks past two defenders with some fancy footwork and snake-like hips before tumbling. Again, nothing is given.

Bojan gives away a needless free kick with a deliberate handball and is lucky not to be booked. Perez's cross from the right evades everyone and Johnson hacks the ball clear.

Arnautovic attempts to create something with a left-wing cross, but Bojan - who is well beyond the near post - can't control and it runs through to Elliot.

St James' Park has been very loud this afternoon, but the noise levels have dropped a little as Stoke have regained a footing.

Coloccini's diving header cuts out Adam's crossfield ball as Shaqiri looks to escape down the left wing.

Anita's not having the greatest game and he brings down Bojan on the near side to give Stoke a free kick in a dangerous area.

The free kick is cleared and Johnson's subsequent cross is headed well wide of the near post by Wollscheid from 18 yards out.

There's not even any added time, which is just as well because it was a pretty dull first half.

Both sides have had one big chance to take the lead. Walters couldn't a cross when unmarked from eight yards, but the biggest chance fell Newcastle's way when Mitrovic's flick hit the inside of the post.

We're not the only game without a goal so far though. In fact, the deadlock has only been broken in two Premier League ties at the halfway stage. All the current scores are here.

If rugby is more your thing, then the World Cup final is about to get underway and all the action from Twickenham will be live on Sports Mole here.

Before the second half gets underway, read Tom Nightingale's half-time report of this game here.

KICKOFF: Newcastle are the team to get us playing in the second half. Will there be a goal in the next 45 minutes?

The hosts squander possession immediately and Dummett concedes a corner with a sliding tackle on Shaqiri.

It's headed clear at the near post though and Newcastle regain possession with a throw-in.

CLOSE! Mitrovic controls a long ball on his chest and lays it off to Perez, who floats inside Johnson and whips a right-footed effort just wide of the far post from 20 yards.

BOOKING: It's a yellow card for Whelan, who hauls back Wijnaldum 25 yards out. This is a real chance for Newcastle to net an opener. Mitrovic and Wijnaldum are standing over it..

SAVE! Wijnaldum hits the ball and Butland flies high to his right to tip over the fierce dipping effort. It wasn't in the corner, but it was still an impressive save.

Newcastle flood forward again and Perez wins a corner off the shins of Pieters. it's taken quickly and Stoke eventually clear.

SAVE! Stoke break in numbers and Arnautovic stands a cross up at the far post for Walters to attack. The forward heads back across goal and Elliot lifts his right hand up to parry the header away!

Roger East calls Mitrovic and Wollscheid across after a bit of handbags between the pair. We've seen Mitrovic's spiky temperament already this season, so he needs to keep his cool here.

SAVE! That's the best chance of the game! Sissoko plays a one-two with Wijnaldum and is put through on goal, but Butland makes a fine save with his trailing leg to deflect the midfielder's shot from inside the area over the bar.

CLOSE! Mbemba should do better! The centre-back loses his man at the corner and connects with the ball level with the near post about six yards out, but he gets too much on it and the ball flashes just wide of the near post!

The second half has begun as the first did - at breakneck speed! Newcastle have had two great chances in a minute to take the lead, but they couldn't take either. Will that come back to haunt them? (Sorry, I couldn't resist one Halloween pun)

SAVE! Butland is at full stretch again to push Perez's 20-yard effort behind for a corner. Stoke's midfield was bypassed with ease then.

SUBSTITUTION: It's the first change of the afternoon, as Afellay replaces Bojan. It seems an odd substitution, as Bojan has looked lively, albeit in patches.

CHANCE! Afellay immediately has a chance to make an impact as Shaqiri cuts the ball back to the attacker on the edge of the box, but he scuffs his shot. Walters flicks it on into the arms of Elliot, but the forward was offside.

BOOKINGS: It's pathetic from Mitrovic. The striker shoves Wollscheid to the floor and then tumbles theatrically as he squares up to the Stoke defender. East deals with the situation well though and dishes out a yellow card to each player.

The pumped-up forward then bundles Johnson over with a late challenge. It's only a free kick, but Mitrovic is now treading a very thin line.

Shaqiri bamboozles Dummett and reaches the byline, but can only pick out a Newcastle shirt in a good position.

Adam breaks beyond Walters and collects the ball inside the area, but drags a right-footed shot well wide of the far post under pressure.

Well, Mitrovic may be walking a tightrope at Stoke are finding him difficult to handle. Shawcross is lucky to escape a yellow card after hauling the striker back.

Shouts for handball as Wijnaldum's overhead kick is blocked by Wollscheid, but the defender was standing just half a yard away from his opponent.

Johnson tries to pick out Walters with an inswinging cross, but it goes all the way through to Elliot.

SUBSTITUTION: Newcastle make an attacking sub with 20 minutes remaining as De Jong comes on for Tiote. Perhaps McLaren senses a winner for his side?

BLOCK! It's a sensational block from Pieters! Mitrovic nicks the ball off the fingertips of Butland with a brave header and the ball drops kindly for the striker, who seemingly has the simple task of slotting into an empty net from six yards, but Pieters comes flying in from nowhere to make a miraculous block! Not that it would have counted, as the offside flag had been raised, but no-one knew that at the time!

BLOCK! It's another block at the opposite end, as Johnson plays a one-two with Walters, but Anita tracked the right-back all the way to throw himself in front of the shot from 18 yards.

Wijnaldum has dropped deeper to allow De jong to play off Mitrovic and the Dutchman almost latches on to a Mitrovic flick-on before slipping.

Newcastle have the chance to test Stoke after a clumsy tackle by Arnautovic on Janmaat near the corner flag on the right-hand side.

However, Stoke clear and the ball goes all the way back to Elliot.

Coloccini flings himself at Arnautovic's low cross after the winger had collected Shaqiri's pass on the overlap. It's a Stoke corner, but a foul is given against Stoke.

SHOT! Shaqiri dinks a pass into Walters, who takes the ball on his chest and swivels, but he fires his effort over the bar and into the crowd.

BOOKING: Arnautovic tops off a poor 10 seconds on his behalf by earning a booking after a cynical trip on De jong. It was all his doing, as he gave the ball away to Sissoko in the first place.

SUBSTITUTION: Lascelles replaces the injured Janmaat with a few minutes remaining.

SAVE! It's the best save of the lot by Butland, who flings to his left to tip Sissoko's thunderous strike around the post.

Arnautovic, who is on a booking already, sends Mbemba tumbling after the full-back had skipped inside him. On another day, he might have seen a second booking shown to him...

SAVE! Butland has been sensational today! The goalkeeper reacts superbly to tip Lascelles's thumping header from 12 yards over the bar.

Stoke can only clear for a throw-in and Newcastle come forward again to win another corner.

SUBSTITUTION: Hughes decides he can take no more risks with Arnautovic and the winger is replaced by Van Ginkel.

SUBSTITUTION: Hughes chucks on Crouch for Shaqiri for the remaining few minutes.

The board wasn't held up for quite a while, but we now know how long is left. Is there time for a winner?

BOOKING: Adam picks up a yellow card for a foul on De Jong, who was just about to escape the attentions of his opponent.

Stoke escape with a point, but they have Butland to thank after the goalkeeper made a series of fine saves in the second half to deny Newcastle the win.

The point isn't enough to lift Newcastle out of the relegation zone, but they do leapfrog Sunderland into 18th place.

That's all from me today, but make sure to stick around on Sports Mole for plenty of reaction and of course, live coverage of the Rugby World Cup final. Until next time!