Tony Mowbray made one change to the side that started the defeat at Middlesbrough last week, with that change forced upon him by injury. Dennis Cirkin was forced off late in the game with a hamstring injury at the Riverside Stadium, and his place was taken by summer signing Aji Alese, with Mowbray handing him his first league start for the Black Cats.
Ross Stewart suffered a thigh injury in the warm-up at Middlesbrough which meant he had to pull out and Patrick Roberts started instead of him, and Roberts kept his place in the starting line-up against Reading at the Madejski Stadium. Costa Rica international Jewison Bennette was included amongst the subs for the first time since his move to Wearside at the end of August.
Reading boss Paul Ince also made one change, in his case to the side that won 2-1 at home to Stoke City ten days ago. Mamadou Loum came into the side, replacing Shane Long who missed out through injury.
READ MORE: Mowbray reveals Blackburn were plotting a summer move for Sunderland's Dan Neil
You can follow the game as it happens in our matchday live blog here, with all the analysis and reaction as it happens.
Tonight's teams
Sunderland: Patterson, O'Nien, Batth, Alese, Gooch, Evans, Neil, Clarke, Roberts, Pritchard, Simms
Subs: Bass, Dajaku, Embleton, Diallo, Bennette, Matete, Hume
Reading: Lumley, Holmes, Hutchinson, McIntyre, Hoilett, Fornah, Hendrick, Ince, Yiadom, Joao, Loum
Subs: Bouzanis, Meite, Rahman, Guinness-Walker, Abrefa, Ehibhatiomhan, Craig
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