Sunderland head to Reading knowing a win will restore them to the Championship play-off places after a solid start to the campaign. The Black Cats have had to cope with losing their head coach Alex Neil to Stoke City with Tony Mowbray coming in to steady the ship.
The new head coach got off to a good start in his first game in charge, a 3-0 win over Rotherham United, even if the former Boro boss relinquished any responsibility for the three points. It was a more difficult outing last time out against his former club, Middlesbrough put in a convincing display to run out 1-0 winners at the Riverside.
The loss of Ross Stewart in the warm-up put a real dint in the Wearsiders' preparations. The clash with the Royals this evening will give supporters a first real chance to see how they'll cope without the Scottish striker and whether Mowbray will tinker with his sides' shape to accommodate some of their recent recruits.
