Alex Neil made three changes to the side that drew at home to Rotherham in midweek. Alex Pritchard came into the Sunderland side for his first start since returning from a calf injury, and he replaced Jay Matete in midfield.
Elliot Embleton also came into the midfield, which allowed Luke O'Nien to drop back into defence to take the place of Callum Doyle. The third change saw Patrick Roberts come in for Trai Hume.
Matete and Hume were on the bench, but Doyle was absent from the squad. Also amongst the subs was Aiden McGeady, who was back in the squad for the first time since suffering a knee ligament injury in November.
