Millwall vs Sunderland preview: How to watch, team news, last meeting, recent form and referee

Sunderland head to Millwall looking for a valuable three points. Here is all you need to know.

Author:
Will Jeffries
Updated:
Feb 3, 2023 10:10 PM EST
Original:
Feb 3, 2023

Sunderland travel to south-east London to face promotion chasing Millwall, with both teams losing only one of their last six matches.

The Wearsiders will be hoping to complete a league double over the Lions for the first time since the 1995-96 season, when Peter Reid was in charge.

Around 2,800 Sunderland supporters are making the journey down south to cheer on the lads.

Last time out, Sunderland beat Middlesbrough at home in a 2-0 win, while Millwall won 1-0 away at Cardiff City.

How to watch

When: Saturday 4th February 2023 - Kick Off: 3pm
Where: The Den (London)
TV: SAFSEE (International)

The game isn't on TV in the UK, but Sunderland fans can watch the SAFSEE stream abroad.

BBC Radio Newcastle are offering live commentary of the game with Nick Barnes and former Sunderland player Gary Bennett.

Radio: BBC Radio Newcastle

Team News

Aidomo Emakhu, Tyler Burey and Callum Styles will all miss the game for the home side through injury. Oliver Burke and Duncan Watmore, who were signed on Transfer Deadline Day, could make their Millwall debuts.

Joe Anderson and Joe Gelhardt signed for Sunderland during the Transfer Window and could make their debuts against the Lions this weekend. Isaac Lihadji will be available too is he work permit is finalised in time.

Alex Pritchard and Dennis Cirkin will be amongst the travelling party as they step up their recovery from injury, but Lynden Gooch is still a few weeks away from full fitness and will miss out this weekend. Luke O'Nien is serving the final game of his three game suspension..

Last Meeting

The two sides last played each other in the Championship on Saturday 3rd December, with the Black Cats running riot winning 3-0.

The Sunderland goals were scored by Amad Diallo, Alex Pritchard and Ellis Simms.

Sunderland Team: Patterson, Gooch, O'Nien, Batth, Alese, Evans, Neil, Diallo, Pritchard, Clarke, Simms

Recent Form

Millwall: WDWLW
Sunderland: WWDLW

Head-to-Head (last 10 Matches)

Millwall wins: 4
Draws: 2
Sunderland wins: 4

Who is the referee for Millwall vs Sunderland?

Thomas Bramall will be the man in charge. He has refereed 31 matches over the last 12 months and has issued 56 yellow cards.

Bramall last refereed Sunderland in League One on the 18th December 2021, with the Wearsiders drawing 1-1 against Suffolk outfit Ipswich Town.

He will be assisted by Derek Eaton and Steven Meredith, with Tom Nield acting as the fourth official.

What the Managers have said

Gary Rowett will be expecting another tough match against promotion-chasing Sunderland, and will be hoping to gain some revenge from the 3-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light.

Rowett said: "They're a very good side.

"If you look back at the game, I don't think the scoreline actually reflected the performance. I thought we were very good for the first 45 minutes, then I think it was the second 45 that kind of let us down a little bit.

"I think Tony said it afterwards, it wasn't a 3-0 game, it flattered them a little bit, so we won't focus on that too much. It's a different challenge.

"There'll be a couple of players out of their group and a couple of players in, we'll probably be the same by the time the game starts.

"It's another challenge, they're a good side, but them coming to our home ground puts a slightly different edge on it I think. We'll be fully focused to see if we can win the game, just like I'm sure they will be".

Tony Mowbray, meanwhile, is expecting a tough test against Millwall, in what will be a thrilling game between two teams looking to get amongst the play-off spots.

However, Mowbray will also have one eye on the 5th Round FA Cup replay vs Fulham at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday evening.

Mowbray said: "The League is always your bread and butter - three points are up for stake on Saturday.

“We have total focus on it. The balance for me is to try not to bring training down too much (due to the fixture schedule) because we need to keep everybody fit.

"The three points are massive for us. We need to go to Millwall, and we know what is coming.

"I said to the team yesterday: 'I was at Blackburn for five-and-a-half-years. Four-and-a-half of those, we played against Millwall. Millwall away is as tough as it gets in this league.

"Whatever people think about Millwall, their support base is a massive help to that football team.

"The noise the fans make and the drive the supporters give their team is like an extra man.

“We have to get to the levels we can get to and find the same intensity levels that we showed last weekend".

Sunderland predicted line-up

Sunderland will have to do without Ross Stewart, but he is likely to be replaced by Joe Gelhardt in a straight swap.

Sunderland predicted line-up vs Millwall (4-2-3-1): Patterson; Hume, Ballard, Batth, Alese; Neil, Michut; Roberts, Amad, Clarke; Gelhardt