Match ends, Sunderland 0, Millwall 1.
SunderlandSunderland0MillwallMillwall1
Millwall secured their Championship safety as Duncan Watmore scored the winner against his former side Sunderland.
After a goalless first half, Watmore came off the bench to fire home and give the Lions their third win in a row.
Sunderland threatened but were unable to find the breakthrough and will finish in mid-table.
The Black Cats, who are under interim boss Mike Dodds, have not won at the Stadium of Light since beating Plymouth on 10 February.
Ex-Lion Dan Ballard came close to opening the scoring for the hosts, heading over the bar from close range early on.
With chances at a premium in the opening 30 minutes, Millwall finally threatened as the ball came in from the right hand side with Michael Obafemi lurking at the front post. Luke O'Nien was able to intervene and turn it behind for a corner.
The Black Cats opted for a change after the break, bringing on full-back Trai Hume for Bradley Dack.
After the hour mark, Dodd made more substitutions, introducing Abdoullah Ba and Adil Aouchiche.
Both combined well minutes later, nearly finding an opener for Sunderland as Ba passed to Aouchiche in the centre, but was denied by a brilliant block.
It was the visitors though who opened the scoring through Watmore who guided Ryan Longman's cross into the roof of the Sunderland net.
It was Watmore's fourth goal of the season, scoring against his former club where he made 87 appearances and left in 2020.
Sunderland finish the campaign with games against Watford and Sheffield Wednesday, while Millwall host Plymouth before visiting Swansea on 4 May.
Millwall manager Neil Harris told BBC Radio London:
"I had two objectives when coming here, galvanise the football club and keep us over the dotted line.
"Both are just as important for me and Sunderland are a good side, to be three points behind them is so good.
"We're not far away from teams who have ambitions of getting into the top 10, it's a great place to be."
Line-ups
Sunderland
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Patterson
- 13O'Nien
- 5BallardBooked at 87mins
- 42AleseSubstituted forMundleat 81'minutes
- 6PembéléSubstituted forBaat 62'minutes
- 39Ekwah
- 7BellinghamBooked at 90mins
- 28StylesSubstituted forEvansat 81'minutes
- 31RiggSubstituted forAouchicheat 63'minutes
- 46DackSubstituted forHumeat 45'minutes
- 20ClarkeBooked at 12mins
Substitutes
- 4Evans
- 9Silva Semedo
- 11Burstow
- 14Mundle
- 17Ba
- 22Aouchiche
- 30Bishop
- 32Hume
- 33Hjelde
Millwall
Formation 4-4-2
- 20Sarkic
- 18Leonard
- 6Tanganga
- 5Cooper
- 2McNamara
- 39HoneymanSubstituted forWatmoreat 67'minutes
- 24De NorreSubstituted forHutchinsonat 88'minutes
- 23Saville
- 11LongmanSubstituted forNorton-Cuffyat 87'minutes
- 21ObafemiBooked at 43minsSubstituted forBradshawat 67'minutes
- 10FlemmingBooked at 87mins
Substitutes
- 4Hutchinson
- 7Nisbet
- 9Bradshaw
- 12Mayor
- 17Norton-Cuffy
- 19Watmore
- 25Esse
- 33Bialkowski
- 45Harding
- Referee:
- Anthony Backhouse
- Attendance:
- 40,743
Match Stats
Home TeamSunderlandAway TeamMillwall
- Possession
- Home68%
- Away32%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away2
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away0
- Corners
- Home11
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sunderland 0, Millwall 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Pierre Ekwah (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Adil Aouchiche following a set piece situation.
Post update
Corry Evans (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by George Saville (Millwall).
Post update
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Dan McNamara.
Booking
Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland).
Post update
Ryan Leonard (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Trai Hume (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Pierre Ekwah.
Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. Shaun Hutchinson replaces Casper De Norre because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. Brooke Norton-Cuffy replaces Ryan Longman.
Booking
Zian Flemming (Millwall) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Booking
Dan Ballard (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Dan Ballard (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Zian Flemming (Millwall).
Post update
Foul by Dan Ballard (Sunderland).
Post update
Zian Flemming (Millwall) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Romaine Mundle replaces Ajibola Alese.
Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Corry Evans replaces Callum Styles.
Comments
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MILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!
Looking forward to the next season specially against Leeds.
Biased of cause yet again. Great win Millwal and great support.
This is a return to reality for the ultra loyalists who Speakman has convinced a few 0-0 draws and its onwards and upwards, they have crushed all ambition out of the club and some of its fans, calling a clean sheet out as an act of heroism is simply tosh, you have learned to take what your given and like it.
This is a wake up call to the daydreamers.