Jay Matete replaces Dennis Cirkin, who is injured, with Bailey Wright replacing Lynden Gooch as Sunderland roll further changes out.

Boro right back into their groove again, with Isaiah Jones powering forward after winning a battle with Jack Clarke.

He rolled it to Duncan Watmore, who was forced wide on the edge of the box, but kept it alive.

Ryan Giles then thrashed in a curling cross which Anthony Patterson dived to gather in the area.

Bit tense at the moment with it being just 1-0.

Terrific move from Middlesbrough.

Duncan Watmore flicked a little chipped pass into the path of Rodrigo Muniz, who in turn fed Alex Mowatt.

He rolled a perfectly weighted pass into Watmore's path but he blasts straight at Anthony Patterson who saved a fierce drive.

Then, Matt Crooks clips the heels of a Sunderland player and is booked.

Corry Evans and Rodrigo Muniz collide in midfield with both crumpled in a heap on the back of it.

Both get to their feet, while Duncan Watmore is in the ear of Muniz - perhaps to work out who does what up top.

Sunderland replace Alex Pritchard with Elliot Embleton, while Amad Diallo comes on for Patrick Roberts.

Riley McGree comes off for Middlesbrough, to be replaced by the all-energy ex-Sunderland forward Duncan Watmore.

Had horrendous injuries at the Stadium of Light.

It's Sunderland driving the pace at the moment.

Alex Pritchard has sought to release Ellis Simms a couple of times, the first time with a one-touch round the corner pass, and then outside of the boot.

Simms can't quite latch on.

Sunderland in again with a chance.

Patrick Roberts plays a perfect pass into space for Dan Neil, who tries to stand a cross up to the back-post.

Liam Roberts though is out swiftly and claws the ball out of the air.

Image source, Rex Features

Patrick Roberts' nimble feet take him through the tacklers in the Boro box, and Sunderland hopes rise.

He feeds Ellis Simms, but as his leg cocks back to shoot, in steps Dael Fry with a superb tackle.

Seconds make the difference. Fry was timely.

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough knocking on the door for a second.

Firstly, Anfernee Dijksteel does well to outmuscle his man down the right, and tees up Matt Crooks who drags wide of the target.

Boro recycle it, with Ryan Giles swinging into the six yard box where Rodrigo Muniz meets it with a firm forehead, but Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson beats it away.

Dael Fry does brilliantly watching a looping ball forward over his shoulder and coaxes it back to Liam Roberts in the Middlesbrough goal.

Sunderland get in behind, with Patrick Roberts holding up under pressure from Matt Clarke.

He wriggles away from the former Brighton stopper, but his curling cross-shot sails away to safety.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Wilder exudes a calm exterior at the moment and might he too, given the way Middlesbrough have imposed themselves on this game.

The wide threat hasn't been quite so incisive in the second-half, but they look comfortable with what they've had thrown at them so far.

Boro have an enviable home record, unbeaten this season, and it is showing. Great atmosphere provided by the support too.

Neil Maddison
Former Middlesbrough midfielder on BBC Tees

It's been a complete non-event since half-time. There's nothing in it.

Both teams have been sloppy.

Middlesbrough's Matt Crooks sees his name in lights on the edge of the box after Sunderland failed to clear the cross sufficiently.

Caught the dipping ball beautifully, but the ball flicked off a visitors player for a corner.

Ryan Giles hoists in a cross, but Danny Batth heads behind. Anthony Patterson punches away the subsequent corner.

Liam Roberts steps out and claims a cross confidently for Boro.

Sunderland got the ball into the box, but couldn't finish.

Ryan Giles collides with Danny Batth at the other end, after the Sunderland centre-half had bashed away a pass into his path.

Anfernee Dijksteel is going touch-tight on Ellis Simms the minute Sunderland are in possession.

He had the measure of the forward a minute ago, the Boro defender, beating him in the air easily.

Dael Fry had a much tougher time dealing with Simms just after, chasing a ball into the box, and Boro just about slam the ball away.

Danger with some pace.

Paddy McNair has had to limp off and he angrily slams his boot down on the turf in frustration.

The Boro defender has had a good game against his old club, but he's now replaced by Anfernee Dijksteel.

You can see that Sunderland are used to playing with two up top, because they don't tend to play through the lines, it's more about getting it forward into the forward or wide for a cross.

Bit of concern for Paddy McNair, who's feeling his ankle after a tussle with Black Cats schemer Alex Pritchard.

Early endeavour from Sunderland, as Ellis Simms takes play forward into Boro territory.

The ball is slipped out to Lynden Gooch on the right, but his low ball in was pinched powerfully by Paddy McNair.

Then, Jack Clarke yomps forward on the next attack, but flashes his shot over Liam Roberts' crossbar from an acute angle.

Image source, Getty Images

Reyt, let's get going for the second-half.

The subs mucking about playing 'piggy in the middle' have all been packed off back to the bench.

Middlesbrough to get us under way.

Sunderland players still chewing the ear off Darren Bond about the penalty that wasn't.

Duncan Ross: If VAR came into the Football League with the standard of referees there would be so many stoppages due to refereeing errors, games would go on forever.