Sunderland will take on League Two Crewe Alexandra at the Stadium of Light in the Carabao Cup first round. The Black Cats will host Lee Bell's Alex in the week beginning August 7.
The draw - which is regionalised at this stage - was made live on Sky Sports News this afternoon, with former Nottingham Forest, Spurs, and Hull City defender Michael Dawson drawing the home teams and ex-Lincoln City and Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley the away sides. It will be only the second meeting between the sides in the competition, with the previous match coming in September 2004 at the second round stage.
On that occasion, Mick McCarthy's Black Cats were knocked out 4-2 on penalties at Gresty Road after the sides had fought out a 3-3 draw after extra-time. Steve Jones had put Crewe - who were then in the Championship - in front inside the opening 20 minutes, with Chris Brown equalising ten minutes before the break.
