Reserves season starts tonight

Sunderland's first team may not get their first kick of a ball 'in anger' until this Saturday - but the second string's season begins tonight.

The Reserves' first game is away against Birmingham City, at Damson Park in Solihull; their first home game is on Monday 15 August against Wigan, at Durham FC's Archibalds Stadium.

The Blues field a side that will include Stephen Clemence, Darren Anderton and Clinton Morrison.

Tonight's game comes only two days after a pre-season friendly where the reserves lost 4-0 away to Scarborough FC, while Birmingham will be hoping to continue a run of form which saw them finish 5th in the reserves' league last season.

Sunderland (from): Carson, Taylor, D Smith, Christensen, Hartley, Martin, Davison, Richardson, Dowson, Allan, Dennehy.

Birmingham: Doyle, Howell, Alsop, Anderton, Blake, Hall, Kilkenny, Clemence, Morrison, Barrowman, Birley