Chris Mepham made his full debut at the Stadium of Light after Regis Le Bris named Dan Ballard on the substitute’s bench.
Ballard suffered an ankle injury in the latter stages of the defeat to Plymouth Argyle last weekend and though he was passed fit to play, he only returned to training in the latter stages of this week. Le Bris opted to go with Mepham as a result, with Ballard offering cover on the bench. Ian Poveda was still absent with a thigh injury.
Le Bris opted not to bring Adil Aouchiche or Abdoullah Ba back into the fold despite Alan Browne and Poveda’s absence, with a number of academy players named on the bench in their stead.
Neither Rav van den Berg nor Jonny Howson were passed fit to play for the visitors. Michael Carrick made just one change to his starting XI, bringing Aidan Morris in ahead of Dan Barlaser who was on the bench.
Chris Rigg gave Sunderland the lead in the first half with a delightful back-heeled finish and Sunderland were able to hang on to the win to make it 15 points from their opening six games.
Here, we take a look at how Phil Smith rates Sunderland’s players against Middlesbrough:

5. Trai Hume
Perhaps fortunate to get away with only a yellow for a big lunge on Latte Lath early on. Managed a tricky assignment from there pretty well thereafter. 6 Photo: Nigel French

6. Dan Neil
Not an easy job trying to snuff out Middlesbrough’s dangerous breaks through the first half. Had a good second half and used the ball well - was a good team performance to manage the lead. 7 | Getty Images

7. Chris Rigg
Used the ball well and provided the difference between the two teams with a delightful finish, backheeling the ball over the line just when it looked like the chance was gone. What a moment. 8 | Getty Images

8. Jobe Bellingham
Put in a huge shift. Key to protecting Sunderland in the rare moments they were exposed and then driving forward to relieve pressure. Physically dominant and used the ball well, could easily have had an assist on another day. Ran the game. 9 Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images