26/11/2024 11:00
The Bristol Street Motors-backed side headed for London to play Millwall seeking to secure a first win in four games, with the three matches prior to the international break having all ended in draws.
Having slipped to second in the standings after Sheffield United went top with a draw in their game, the Black Cats started the game well at The Den and took the lead in the tenth minute when the ball fell kindly for Aaron Connolly on the edge of the box after the home side failed to deal with a free-kick.
His volley flew beyond the dive of ‘keeper Lukas Jensen for a first goal since joining from Hull City
Sunderland created a number of chances in the first half but were unable to find a way past Jensen for a second time before the game was delayed shortly before the break due to two separate medical emergencies in the crowd.
When the action resumed, Millwall were a different team and started to put the Sunderland goal under pressure, with Anthony Patterson on his return to the side being forced into a number of saves to keep the scores level – with Josh Coburn in particular going close with a stinging drive from distance.
Sunderland created opportunities of their own on the break with Eliezer Mayenda forcing Jensen into a save before Milan Aleksic missed a guilt-edged chance at the death when played in by Wilson Isidor.
Millwall made the visitors pay for that miss as they went straight up the other end to steal a point as Aidomo Emakhu crossed to the back post for Femi Azeez to equalise.
The point briefly moved Sunderland back to the top before Leeds United grabbed a late victory against Swansea to edge ahead in the standings going into the midweek fixtures.
Despite that, Sunderland have now enjoyed their best start to a Championship season since the 1998/99 campaign, when club legends Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn were in fine form to lead the team to the title and promotion to the Premier League.