- Sunderland are top of the Championship
- Millwall are eight points behind in eighth
- Recommended bet: Draw

Championship leaders Sunderland could be set for a frustrating afternoon at Millwall on Saturday.

As the club action resumes, Sunderland sit top of the second tier, but only on goal difference over Sheffield United and they face a tough test at The Den against a Millwall side that have won four of their last five games.

Team news

Billy Mitchell and Adam Mayor are very close to returning from injury and could be in contention to feature for the hosts after stepping up their training schedule over the international break.

Romain Esse, George Saville and Mihailo Ivanovic have all been away with their countries and will be assessed ahead of the game.

Sunderland will be weakened by the absence of suspended trio Jobe Bellingham, Patrick Roberts and Trai Hume for the trip to The Den.

Romaine Mundle and Alan Browne are both serious injury doubts for the Black Cats after they were forced off during the 2-2 draw with Coventry last time out.

The stats

Sunderland have drawn their last three league games.

Millwall are unbeaten in their last seven in the Championship, winning four and drawing three.

The Lions have earned 1-0 victories in their last two home games against promotion hopefuls Leeds and Burnley.

The last two meetings between the sides at The Den, in February 2023 and December 2023, both finished 1-1.

Prediction

Sunderland look capable of maintaining an automatic promotion bid this season but they know they have stiff competition for a top-two finish from the likes of Sheffield United, Leeds and Burnley, to name just three clubs in the chasing pack.

The Black Cats remain top despite three consecutive draws against QPR, Preston and Coventry but if they fail to pick up three points from their trip to London this weekend they are likely to relinquish their place at the summit.

Millwall have emerged as possible promotion candidates, too, over the autumn as an impressive run of four straight wins, all by a 1-0 scoreline, propelled Neil Harris' side to within touching distance of the top six.

Sunderland will be bracing themselves for a tough examination of their top-two credentials and will be wary of suffering the same fate as rivals Leeds and Burnley, who were both edged out by the Lions at the Den earlier this month.

A fourth draw on the spin will frustrate Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris but it might be the best he can hope for against the well-drilled Lions.

Back the draw at 37/20 with LiveScore Bet.

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