LIVE MATCH-DAY FOOTBALL BLOG (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

7:20pm

85: Newcastle sub - Obertan for Ba. Tottenham sub - Kane for Sandro.

7:05pm

71: Newcastle sub. Anita making his debut as he replaces Cabaye.

7:04pm

7:02pm

68: Spurs sub. Van der Vaart for Sigurdsson.

6:54pm

58: Alan Pardew has been sent to the stands for pushing the linesman. He was disputing the decision not to award a throw in when he thought the ball had gone out.

6:43pm

6:42pm

46: Second half underway with no substitutions.

6:22pm

Goalless at half-time and Newcastle are fairly fortunate to be level. Spurs have hit the woodwork twice through a Defoe shot and a Bale header.

6:22pm

45: Yohan Cabaye booked for a foul on Bale.

6:12pm

37: Spurs go really close again. Lennon crosses from the right and Bale heads against the crossbar. Newcastle second best at the moment.

6:07pm

Best moment of the game so far and a let off for Newcastle.

Defoe cuts inside Steven Taylor, but rolls his shot against the base of the left-hand post with Krul beaten.

5:57pm

First chance goes to Newcastle. Ba instinctively sticks out a boot to deflect Cisse's low shot, but the ball goes just past the left-hand post.

5:53pm

And now we're up to three yellow cards in the opening 20 minutes - Sandro this time, again for a foul on Ben Arfa.

5:52pm

Jake Livermore now enters the book for Spurs for a foul on Ben Arfa. Both sides still to carve out a chance.

5:48pm

15 minutes gone and predictably frenetic. No real chances yet, but Danny Simpson has just become the first player booked for a foul on Gareth Bale.

5:39pm

Romain Amalfitano has replaced Shola Ameobi on the bench for Newcastle - Ameobi picked up an injury in the warm up.

5:35pm

Newcastle get things under way kicking towards the Leazes End. Look to be setting up in a 4-4-2 with Ben Arfa on the right and Gutierrez on the left.

5:27pm

5:25pm

Packed to the rafters as you would expect here at St James' for the first game of the season.

Fabricio Coloccini's absence through injury is a blow, with James Perch lining up alongside Steven Taylor at the heart of the back four.

Newcastle's other big guns are all available though, so Alan Pardew must be pretty satisfied with the starting XI he's been able to put out.

5:11pm

5:10pm

Starting line-ups:

Newcastle (4-4-2): Krul; Simpson, Perch, S Taylor, Santon; Gutierrez, Tiote, Cabaye, Ben Arfa; Ba, Cisse.

Subs: Harper (gk), Williamson, Anita, R Taylor, Gosling, Obertan, Shola Ameobi.

Tottenham (4-3-3): Friedel; Walker, Kaboul, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto; Sandro, Sigurdsson, Livermore; Lennon, Defoe, Bale.

Subs: Cudicini (gk), Vertonghen, Naughton, Jenas, Townsend, van der Vaart, Kane.

5:07pm

So the afternoon games are finished - the baton has been passed to me here at St James' Park.

It's been a cracking start to the season for Sunderland, who drew 0-0 with Arsenal, and a decent showing from Hartlepool, who drew 0-0 with Swindon.

Disappointment for Boro, who lost 1-0 at Barnsley, but a positive start to life in the Northern League for Darlington, who came from behind to beat Bishop Auckland 3-1.

Now, it's time for Newcastle United to step up to the plate. They're at home to Tottenham and kick off is 20 minutes away.

5:05pm

Final score at Heritage Park: Bishop Auckland 1 (Johnson), Darlington 3 (Arjun Purewal, Reay, Dowson).

4:49pm

GOAL: David Dowson adds a third for Darlington. After running away from left-back Chris Lawson, he turned Adam McLane inside out before firing past Jeffries that took a deflection off McLane. 3-1 now.

4:47pm

Two minutes remaining at the Emirates. It's been all Arsenal in the second half but this is heading for a point after Sunderland's strong defending. 

4:41pm

Boro haven't been in this since HT at all. Travelling fans chanting "Attack, attack, attack" to drive their side forward.

4:35pm

Sunderland have not created anything in the second half. They have defended really well, though, with Cuellar the pick.

Fourteen minutes and it is still 0-0. Sunderland have got Saha on and Arsenal have sent on Giroud.

4:33pm

Bishop Auckland v Darlington: Reay’s goal was hard luck on ten-man Bishops who had defended stoutly and they held out as long as they could, but Darlington now looked good for a third goal.

4:31pm

GOAL: Darlington go 2-1 up thanks to two of Martin Gray’s substitutes. Amar Purewal played a perfectly-weighted ball into Shaun Reay’s path and he dinked the ball over Peter Jeffries.

4:24pm

GOAL: Darlington equalise with a towering header by Arjun Purewal. He rose to head home Stephen Harrison’s right-wing cross after the free-kick won by Amar Purewal was not cleared. Huge cheers and relief for Quakers.

4:23pm

Bishops v Darlington: Bishops may have ten men, but they’re thus far untroubled by Quakers. Another change for Darlington, Amar Purewal on for Chris Emms and the winger immediately wins a free-kick after being pulled back by Jamie Harwood who is booked.

4:22pm

Bishops v Darlington: Shot off target for Darlington. Arjun Purwal makes a marauding run from the back, the centre-back carrying the ball forward before unleashing a shot that was narrowly over.

4:21pm

Boro haven't responded well so Mowbray makes triple substitution. Reach, Halliday and Zemmama on for Arca, Friend and Haroun. Ledesma has struggled this afty but stays on.

4:14pm

Hartlepool: Horwood free kick Howard header onto post with keeper well beaten on 58 mins

4:14pm

3 on 2 break for Pools, Monkhouse fed Poole into area, but touch too heavy and took him wide #echosport

4:14pm

Bishops v Darlington: Quakers boss Martin Gray takes action and makes a double substitution on 54 minutes. Off go Adam Clough Jamie Clarke, in their place are Leon Scott and Shaun Reay. Still1-0 to Bishop Auckland.

4:11pm

Second half under way at Oakwell. Mido booed by Boro fans as he walked towards the tunnel at HT. He's not playing, though, misses out for Barnsley through injury.

3:55pm

Darlington fans now changing ends from the Tin Shed behind one goal to the open terrace at the end of the Heritage Park pitch. Been a few years since they were able to do that at Feethams!

3:50pm

Half-time at Heritage Park. Bishop Auckland 1 Darlington 0.

3:47pm

GOAL: In first half injury time Andy Johnson lashes home to make it 1-0 to Bishops. 

3:46pm

3:45pm

Sunderland torn apart there by the movement of Cazorla, Arteta and Walcott but then Gardner did enough to get back and prevent Podolski from scoring.

Almost half-time. Decent scoreline for Sunderland if they can keep the Gunners out in final few mins of the half.

3:35pm

Boro almost gifted an opener. Barnsley keeper Gonzalez hits weak clearance that almost falls to Ledesma. Argentine would have had empty net to shoot at. Still 0-0 after 34mins.

3:35pm

RED CARD: Two bookable sees Bishop centre-back Chris Renshaw red-carded on 34 minutes. The first was after three minutes for pulling back David Dowson, and now he he's been penalised for handling Dowson's through-ball.

3:33pm

Bishops v Darlington: After Jamie Clarke won an aerial ball on the edge of the Bishops penalty area, the ball fell kindly to Adam Nicholls, but his shot was stopped by the legs of keeper Peter Jeffries.

3:31pm

Some lovely play between Hoyte, Haroun and Emnes down the right sets up Ledesma on the edge of the box, but his pass to play in Emnes too long.

3:31pm

Bishops v Darlington: Penalty to Bishops after Stephen Harrison pushed Andy Johnson. Poor penalty taken by Johnson and SAVED by Jack Norton. Still 0-0.

3:28pm

Bishops v Darlington: Another wasted chance by Bishops’ Sonny Andrews. Stephen Salvin played the ball down the line and Andrews broke into the penalty area, but he shot straight at Quakers’ keeper Jack Norton.

3:24pm

Sunderland doing well here, keeping the ball at times and creating occasional chances.

Having said that, Gervinho just turned Gardner too cheaply and Cazorla should have hit the target when he met the cross first-time. Still goalless.

3:23pm

Bishops v Darlington: So close to a goal. Jamie Clarke his the side-netting following a David Dowson pass, though Bishops’ felt Marc Ellison had committed a foul in the build-up.

3:17pm

Boro under pressure at the moment. Three Barnsley corners in succession. Hosts also had appeals for a penalty waved away after the ball hit Rhys Williams' arm in the area. Only corner given. Let off for Boro.

3:16pm

Great move by Pools, Franks to Monkhouse who looked set to score but he slipped as he composed himself to shoot

3:14pm

Swindon looking lively on the counter, Pools likewise. Decent bright start all round. This time last week, Pools were 2-0 down - so it's an improvement

3:14pm

Bishops v Darlington: Bishops’ Arran Wearmouth clears Dan Smith’s inswinging corner off the line. Game bubbling along nicely with the Darlington fans making plenty of noise.

3:12pm

Bishops v Darlington: Poor miss by Sonny Andrews. Played n by right-back Phil Shead, the goal opened up, but the striker blasted narrowly wide of Jack Norton’s goal.

3:11pm

Wasted opportunity for Darlington. Striker Jamie Clarke dispossessed Adam McLane, but he was unable to prod the ball through for David Dowson. Quakers’ first corner of the season soon followed, taken by Chris Emms, and gathered at the second attempt by keeper Peter Jeffries.

3:09pm

Decent start at the Emirates. Both Szczesny and Mignolet have had to make decent saves from McClean and Santi Cazorla.

Campbell has started wide right for Sunderland, with Sessegnon up front on his own so far.

3:04pm

Bishops v Darlington: First incident of note, Chris Renshaw booked for hauling back David Dowson after the striker had taken the ball past the Bishop defender. Dan Smith’s curling free-kick was well wide.

3:04pm

We're underway here at Oakwell. Positive start for Boro with Ledesma's low drive going just wide.

3:00pm

Off at Hartlepool - rousing reception for Steve Howard on his second spell at Pools 

2:58pm

The players are out at the Emirates. Almost match time, sprinklers have just stopped. Sunderland's season starts here and they could do with a good start to help them attract more players.

But Arsenal are in desperate need of a positive showing themselves after the sale of Robin van Persie to Manchester United and the seemingly imminent exit of Alex Song to Barcelona. Game on.

2:58pm

The players are out at the Emirates. Almost match time, sprinklers have just stopped. Sunderland's season starts here and they could do with a good start to help them attract more players.

But Arsenal are in desperate need of a positive showing themselves after the sale of Robin van Persie to Manchester United and the seemingly imminent exit of Alex Song to Barcelona. Game on.

2:58pm

The players are out at the Emirates. Almost match time, sprinklers have just stopped. Sunderland's season starts here and they could do with a good start to help them attract more players.

But Arsenal are in desperate need of a positive showing themselves after the sale of Robin van Persie to Manchester United and the seemingly imminent exit of Alex Song to Barcelona. Game on.

2:39pm

BISHOP AUCKLAND: Jeffries, Shead, Lawson, Renshaw, McLane, Hodgson, Harwood, Salvin, Andrews, Johnson, Wearmouth. Subs: Ord, Thexton, Weirs, Parker, Ayers
DARLINGTON (4-4-2): Norton; Harrison, Brown, Arjun Purewal, Smith; Emms, Ellison, Clough, Nicholls; Dowson, Clarke. Subs: Connor (gk), Scott, Amar Purewal, Johnson, Reay

2:39pm

Good afternoon from Oakwell. Team sheets are out and they line up as follows...

Barnsley (4-4-2): Gonzalez; Wiseman, Foster, Stones, Golbourne; Mellis, Done, Cywka, Perkins; Harewood, Davies
Subs (not used): Lidakevicius, Hassell, Collins, Dawson, Digby, Dagnall, Etuhu.
Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Steele; Hoyte, Williams, Woodgate, Friend; Haroun, Bailey, Leadbitter, Arca; Ledesma, Emnes.
Subs (not used): Leutwiler, Zemmama, Hines, Halliday, L Williams, Reach, Smallwood.

Kevin Thomson is out with a tight calf and Mustapha Carayol hasn't recovered from a hamstring strain in time. 

2:27pm

2:27pm

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Flinders; Austin, Collins, Hartley, Horwood; Franks, Sweeney, Walton, Monkhouse; Howard, Poole. Subs: Humphreys, Nish, Luscombe, Baldwin, Murray, Holden, James.
SWINDON: Foderingham; Devera, McCormack, Archibald-Henville; McEveley; Navarro, Miller, Ritchie, De Vita; Benson, Williams. Subs: Bedwell, Flint, Thompson, Ferry, Collins, Rooney. Risser.
Referee: Mark Brown (Hull)

2:25pm

That means Sessegnon makes his first appearance since last season for Sunderland. Westwood's calls to be No 1 overlooked and Mignolet is preferred between the posts.

Arsenal also field new boys Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla but name Olivier Giroud - a former Newcastle target - on the bench after his summer switch from Montpellier.

2:09pm

2:07pm

2:04pm

2:04pm

First job at Victoria Park - handover a giant poster of The Northern Echo's kickoff cartoon to beaming Pools boss Neale Cooper 

2:01pm

1:57pm

1:51pm

Sunderland fans will be interested to hear there's no Steven Fletcher in the Wolves squad currently trailing 1-0 at Leeds United.

Fletcher has only played once in pre-season, so his non-appearance might not be purely about the possibility of a move to the Black Cats. Either way, it's another step towards him leaving Molineux.

1:20pm