Image source, Rex Features

Sunderland name the same XI that started Wednesday's comfortable 2-0 home win over Watford.

Middlesbrough are missing midfielder Riley McGree with a foot injury so Matt Crooks takes his place. Rav van den Berg is in for Tommy Smith at right-back.

Sunderland XI: Patterson, Huggins, Ballard, O'Nien, Hume; Neil, Bellingham, Ba, Roberts, Clarke, Burstow.

Subs: Bishop, Hemir, Rusyn, Taylor, Bennette Aouchiche, Seelt, Triantis, Rigg.

Middlesbrough XI: Dieng, van den Berg, Fry, McNair, Engel, Hackney, Barlaser, Jones, Crooks, Greenwood, Coburn.

Subs: Glover, Smith, Latte Lath, Rogers, Howson, Silvera, Forss, Bangura, Lenihan.

Image source, Rex Features

I'll be honest the first game on a Saturday can sometimes be a bit of a damp squib.

An early kick off, often preceded by an uncomfortably long journey for travelling fans, can mean the match takes a little while to find its groove.

I doubt there'll be any such concerns today.

Fourth-placed Sunderland host Middlesbrough, fresh off three successive wins after a tough start to the season, in a Wear-Tees derby.

Supporters of both of these sides will no doubt have spent the past couple of days being bombarded by stories about Newcastle's famous 4-1 shellacking of Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night and they'll want their side to make the most of their time in the spotlight today.

Good afternoon and welcome to live text coverage of Sunderland v Middlesbrough in the Championship.