McCarthy gives Thornton start in play off

Crystal Palace boss Iain Dowie backed the men who had given his side the slimmest of advantages in their Nationwide Division One play-off semi-final to complete the job at Sunderland.

Dowie named the same team for the second leg at the Stadium of Light after seeing the Eagles secure a 3-2 lead at Selhurst Park on Friday night courtesy of Andy Johnson’s 87th-minute strike.

Opposite number Mick McCarthy, however, made two changes as the Black Cats attempted to overturn the single-goal deficit and fight their way into the final at the Millennium Stadium later this month.

Utility man Darren Williams and on-loan midfielder Carl Robinson had to make do with seats on the bench as the hugely experienced Joachim Bjorklund and the talented Sean Thornton were recalled.

Sunderland: Poom, McCartney, Breen, Babb, Bjorklund, Oster, Whitley, McAteer, Thornton, Kyle, Stewart.

Subs: Clark, Tommy Smith, Williams, Robinson, Myhre.

Crystal Palace: Vaesen, Granville, Leigertwood, Popovic, Butterfield, Gray, Hughes, Riihilahti, Routledge, Shipperley, Johnson.

Subs: Freedman, Derry, Powell, Berthelin, Black.

Referee: D Pugh (Merseyside)