Three successive wins for Millwall has taken them clear of the drop zone
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.
Line-ups
Sunderland
Formation 3-4-3
1Patterson
13O’Nien5Ballard42Alese
6Pembélé39Ekwah7Bellingham28Styles
31Rigg46Dack20Clarke
1Patterson13O’Nien5BallardBooked at 87mins42AleseSubstituted forMundleat 81’minutes6PembéléSubstituted forBaat 62’minutes39Ekwah7BellinghamBooked at 90mins28StylesSubstituted forEvansat 81’minutes31RiggSubstituted forAouchicheat 63’minutes46DackSubstituted forHumeat 45’minutes20ClarkeBooked at 12minsSubstitutes4Evans9Silva Semedo11Burstow14Mundle17Ba22Aouchiche30Bishop32Hume33Hjelde
Millwall
Formation 4-4-2
20Sarkic
18Leonard6Tanganga5Cooper2McNamara
39Honeyman24De Norre23Saville11Longman
21Obafemi10Flemming
20Sarkic18Leonard6Tanganga5Cooper2McNamara39HoneymanSubstituted forWatmoreat 67’minutes24De NorreSubstituted forHutchinsonat 88’minutes23Saville11LongmanSubstituted forNorton-Cuffyat 87’minutes21ObafemiBooked at 43minsSubstituted forBradshawat 67’minutes10FlemmingBooked at 87minsSubstitutes4Hutchinson7Nisbet9Bradshaw12Mayor17Norton-Cuffy19Watmore25Esse33Bialkowski45Harding
Referee:Anthony Backhouse
Attendance:40,743
Live Text
Match ends, Sunderland 0, Millwall 1.
Second Half ends, Sunderland 0, Millwall 1.
Attempt missed. Pierre Ekwah (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Adil Aouchiche following a set piece situation.
Corry Evans (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by George Saville (Millwall).
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Dan McNamara.
Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland).
Ryan Leonard (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Trai Hume (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Pierre Ekwah.
Substitution, Millwall. Shaun Hutchinson replaces Casper De Norre because of an injury.
Substitution, Millwall. Brooke Norton-Cuffy replaces Ryan Longman.
Zian Flemming (Millwall) is shown the yellow card.
Dan Ballard (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
Dan Ballard (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Zian Flemming (Millwall).
Foul by Dan Ballard (Sunderland).
Zian Flemming (Millwall) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Sunderland. Romaine Mundle replaces Ajibola Alese.
Substitution, Sunderland. Corry Evans replaces Callum Styles.