Lee Johnson handed one of this week's new signings his Sunderland debut, with former Spurs man Dennis Cirkin starting at left-back against MK Dons at Stadium MK.
Fellow new-boy Frederik Alves, who joined on loan from West Ham yesterday evening, did not arrive in time to be eligible for today's game.
After making eight changes for the midweek Carabao Cup win at Port Vale, Johnson reverted to almost the same starting XI that that faced Wigan Athletic on the opening day.
Cirkin's inclusion was the only change, with Luke O'Nien missing out due to illness.
With Cirkin at left-back, that freed up Dan Neil to move back into his natural midfield role where he filled the vacancy left by O'Nien alongside Corry Evans.
Elliot Embleton had been a doubt ahead of the game, but he was passed fit to start in the number ten role.
MK Dons' new head coach Liam Manning also made one change to the side that started the opening league game.
He brought in goalkeeper Andrew Fisher in place of Laurie Walker.
Dons included Sunderland academy product Ethan Robson in their starting XI, having signed him on loan from Blackpool over the summer.
You can follow all the action in our live match blog here.
Today's line-ups
Sunderland: Burge, Winchester, Flanagan, Doyle, Cirkin, Evans, Neil, Gooch, Embleton, McGeady, Stewart
Subs: Patterson, O'Brien, Taylor, Pritchard, Diamond, Wright, Hawkes
MK Dons: Fisher, Watson, Jules, O'Hora, Darling, O'Riley, Twine, Eisa, Robson, Parrott, Harvie
Subs: Ravizzoli, Lewington, Brown, Martin, Baldwin, McEachran, Boateng
