Alex Neil named a strong side for Sunderland's pre-season friendly at Accrington - with nine changes from the side that lost at Bradford City in midweek. Only Lynden Gooch and Jack Clarke were retained from the XI that lost 2-0 at Valley Parade, and Neil switched back to a 4-2-3-1 system after playing with three centre-backs against the Bantams.
Anthony Patterson was restored in goal, with Gooch at right-back, Bailey Wright and Daniel Ballard in central defence, and Dennis Cirkin at left-back. Corry Evans and Dan Neil were the two central midfielders.
Patrick Roberts and Jack Clarke were the wide forwards either side of Alex Pritchard, with Ross Stewart leading the line. Carl Winchester and Leon Dajaku, who started at Bradford, were absent from today's Black Cats squad entirely.
READ MORE: Accrington Stanley vs Sunderland LIVE - Updates from Black Cats' friendly
With Jacob Carney missing out with a knee injury, Adam Richardson was included on the bench as backup for Patterson.
Accrington boss John Coleman also went with a strong side that included four new signings - on-loan Burnley goalkeeper Lukas Jensen, former Shrewsbury winger Shaun Whalley, ex-Brackley midfielder Matt Lowe, and former Newcastle youngster Mo Sangare. For Accrington, this was their final game before they begin their League One campaign at home to Charlton Athletic next Saturday.
You can follow this afternoon's game as it happens in our live blog here, with James Hunter at the ground to bring you all the latest action, reaction and analysis.
Today's teams
Sunderland: Patterson, Gooch, Wright, Ballard, Cirkin, Evans, Neil, Roberts, Pritchard, Clarke, Stewart
Subs: Richardson, Batth, Alese, O'Nien, Embleton, Matete, Hume, Diamond, Taylor
Accrington Stanley: Jensen, Rodgers, Hamilton, Pritchard, McConville, Procter, Coyle, Clark, Lowe, Sangare, Whalley
Subs: Savin, Pell, Leigh, Perritt, Martin, Conneely, Longelo, Nolan, Adedoyin, O'Brien
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