Tony Mowbray made four changes to the side that started Sunderland's midweek win at Huddersfield Town. After outings in the last two games as a substitute, Ellis Simms returned to the starting line-up for the first time since picking up a toe injury in mid-September, playing up front in place of Leon Dajaku who dropped out of the squad altogether.
Winger Jack Clarke was available again after serving a one-game suspension at Huddersfield after accumulating five bookings, and he replaced Alex Pritchard. The third change saw Mowbray give Abdoullah Ba his first start, coming into central midfield in place of Corry Evans, while Dan Neil replaced Elliot Embleton.
Evans, Embleton, and Pritchard dropped to the bench. With Evans out of the starting XI, Bailey Wright took on the captain's armband.
