Sunderland host Millwall in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Sunderland return to the Stadium of Light this weekend, following a couple of positive performances on the road.
After drawing 0-0 against Leeds United, Sunderland then beat West Brom 1-0 at The Hawthorns, with Pierre Ekwah scoring the winner.
Mike Dodds‘ side have now lost just one of their last six in the Championship and are unbeaten in three; remaining in 13th place of the table but now just a couple of points behind Bristol City in 12th.
Millwall under Neil Harris have given themselves a six-point buffer to the drop zone.
They’ve certainly improved in recent weeks and come into this game on the back of two-straight wins, against Leicester City and then Cardiff City last time out.
Sunderland vs Millwall H2H
In their club history, Sunderland have beaten Millwall 16 times, losing 13 and drawing 12.
The reverse fixture between these two sides was a 1-1 draw at The Den back in December; Tony Mowbray‘s last game in charge of the club.
And the last time these two teams met on Wearside was in December 2022, with the Black Cats winning 3-0 courtesy of goals from Amad Diallo, Alex Pritchard, and Ellis Simms.
The Lions haven’t won at the Stadium of Light since 2004; and 2004 was also the last time Millwall beat Sunderland altogether.
Four of the last five meetings between the Black Cats and Millwall have ended in a draw.
Sunderland vs Millwall score prediction
And despite Millwall’s poor recent record against Sunderland and away at the Stadium of Light, Sky Sports pundit David Prutton has tipped the Lions to come through this weekend.
He’s predicted a 1-0 win for Harris’ men; a win that could mathematically seal their Championship status for another year, depending on other results.
A win for Sunderland meanwhile could lift them into the top half of the table.
Mike Dodds has one thing right now
Sunderland certainly seemed to have turned a corner in the last few games.
Against Leeds and then West Brom, the Black Cats looked much more confident in a back-five shape, with the likes of Callum Styles impressing and proving why he was brought to the club.
Sunderland then, right now, have a bit of momentum.
They have a decent run of results to build upon and that’s something they’ve not had in a long time now.
So against Millwall who’ve been poor this season, but solid in recent weeks, Sunderland should really be winning, although it’s certainly going to be tough.
The Lions will no doubt set up defensively and try and snatch a goal on the break, with a 1-0 win for the Lions not sounding all that surprising.
It would certainly knock the wind out of Sunderland sails but if they play like they have done recently, they should get the win.
Kick off is at 3pm on Saturday,