Sunderland’s rousing second-half display secured a convincing victory against an in-form Millwall, to move them within a point of the Championship top six.
After an insipid first 45 minutes in which Millwall’s Zian Flemming missed a golden chance just before the half-time whistle, the Wearsiders hit their soon after the break when Amad Diallo smashed home an Ellis Simms flick at the back post.
With the crowd now fired up, and Sunderland’s tails up, Alex Pritchard hammered his angled shot past George Long to double the lead shortly after, following good work by Lynden Gooch to pick him out.
Millwall were not quelled despite the set-back, and Anthony Patterson had to be alert to turn over a swirling Flemming cross.
Ellis Simms finally put any fading hopes of a fightback to bed in stoppage time, when he latched onto a long ball over the top, lofted over the keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Sunderland
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Patterson
- 11GoochBooked at 73mins
- 13O’Nien
- 6Batth
- 42Alese
- 4Evans
- 24Neil
- 16DialloSubstituted forRobertsat 74′minutes
- 21PritchardSubstituted forEmbletonat 63′minutes
- 20ClarkeSubstituted forCirkinat 80′minutes
- 9Simms
Substitutes
- 3Cirkin
- 7Dajaku
- 8Embleton
- 10Roberts
- 12Bass
- 17Ba
- 32Hume
Millwall
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Long
- 2McNamaraSubstituted forEvansat 83′minutes
- 15Cresswell
- 5Cooper
- 3M WallaceSubstituted forMaloneat 83′minutes
- 8MitchellBooked at 41mins
- 23SavilleBooked at 22minsSubstituted forShackletonat 66′minutes
- 21VoglsammerSubstituted forBennettat 66′minutes
- 10Flemming
- 39HoneymanBooked at 34minsSubstituted forStylesat 66′minutes
- 9Bradshaw
Substitutes
- 4Hutchinson
- 6Evans
- 11Malone
- 16Shackleton
- 17Styles
- 20Bennett
- 33Bialkowski
- Referee:
- Tim Robinson
- Attendance:
- 37,012
Live Text
Match ends, Sunderland 3, Millwall 0.
Second Half ends, Sunderland 3, Millwall 0.
Attempt saved. Scott Malone (Millwall) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jamie Shackleton.
Goal! Sunderland 3, Millwall 0. Ellis Simms (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Anthony Patterson.
Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Luke O’Nien.
Attempt blocked. Mason Bennett (Millwall) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Malone.
Daniel Neil (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Zian Flemming (Millwall).
Attempt saved. Billy Mitchell (Millwall) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Lynden Gooch.
Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Luke O’Nien.
Substitution, Millwall. George Evans replaces Dan McNamara.
Substitution, Millwall. Scott Malone replaces Murray Wallace.
Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Callum Styles (Millwall).
Substitution, Sunderland. Dennis Cirkin replaces Jack Clarke.
Corry Evans (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Zian Flemming (Millwall).
Substitution, Sunderland. Patrick Roberts replaces Amad Diallo.
Ellis Simms (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
