GUS POYET has made six changes to his Sunderland team for this afternoon''s FA Cup third round tie with Carlisle United at the Stadium of Light.

Around 5,800 away fans have made the trip over from Cumbria to support the League One side and Poyet does not want his Premier League basement boys to suffer further frustration.

Craig Gardner, Andrea Dossena,  Wes Brown, Seb Larsson, Adam Johnson and Jozy Altidore have all been introduced to the starting line-up following the New Year's Day defeat to Aston Villa. There is a place on the bench for Under-21s striker Duncan Whatmore.

Phil Bardsley, Lee Cattermole, Valentin Roberge, Modibo Diakite , Steven Fletcher and Emmanuele Giaccherini all make way, but Poyet clearly wants to book a place in the fourth round and avoid an FA Cup shock. 

New signing Marcos Alonso is unable to play because his paperwork has not gone though in time. 

SUNDERLAND: Mannone; Gardner, Celustka, Brown, Dossena; Ki; Ji, Colback, Larsson, Johnson; Altidore. Subs: Pickford (gk), Bardsley, Fletcher, Ba, Giaccherini, Borini, Whatmore.

CARLISLE: Fleming; Potts, O'Hanlon, Ehmer, Robson; Buaben; Berrett, Noble, Lawrence; Guy, Amoo. Subs: Brass (gk), Townsend, Miller, Beck, Symington, Meppen-Walter, Chimbonda.