Tony Mowbray made two changes against Huddersfield Town to the Sunderland side that started the weekend win against Birmingham City - both of them forced upon him. Luke O'Nien returned in defence, taking the place of Dennis Cirkin, who was serving a one-match suspension after being sent off against the Blues.
And the second change saw on-loan Leeds United frontman Joe Gelhardt come back into the starting XI, taking the place of Edouard Michut. Michut was absent from the matchday squad, with the French midfielder picking up an injury at the weekend.
Mowbray had said on the eve of the game that a player had suffered a knock at the weekend and would not feature tonight, but he would not say who it was at that stage. Academy graduate Dan Neil started in midfield, which saw him make his 100th appearance for the club.