Sunderland have tools to do what Leeds United and Burnley couldn't at Millwall

Nobody in the Sunderland camp will be underestimating the challenge posed by Millwall on Saturday. The Lions may have lost two of their first three home matches in the Championship this season but in their last 10 games they have lost just once, and that came on their travels at Cardiff City.

They are unbeaten in their last seven outings, four of those coming at home and three away and have only conceded twice in those fixtures. That has propelled the east London club up to eighth in the table.

They have won four and drawn one of their last five home matches. Among the casualties in New Cross have been Burnley and Leeds United – their last two home victories.

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Millwall boss Neil Harris told Southwark News this week he “relishes” the prospect of taking on another top-four side at The Den.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Harris said. “We just beat Burnley at home, just beat Leeds at home. You get to the 15 games, they [Sunderland] are at the top of the league for a reason. I think 15 games in, it’s a relatively fair reflection.

“Sunderland are top and they’re good at lots of different things and that’s why they’re top of the league and they’ve got some real individual ability as well.

“So it will be another huge crowd. Sunderland travel and support their team really well. It’s going to be a cracking atmosphere. The players are ready for it and we’ve just got to try and humble another huge football club in this division.”

Make no mistake, this is a massive task for Sunderland given they are without key first-team regulars who help make the team tick. But despite seemingly indestructible Millwall’s record, there is chink in their armoury that can be exploited.

In their last eight matches, they’ve only scored six goals. In 11 of their 15 matches overall, they have scored one goal or less in each of those games – drawing a blank four times.

So, on the plus side for Sunderland, Millwall struggle to score more than once every time they play. That’s all they have managed in each of their last six matches.

The downside from Sunderland’s point of view is that in four of those last six games, one goal was all it took for Harris’ team to pick up three points. Regis Le Bris’ side need to play their pressing game from the start, and go and attack the opposition.

Scoring first would be hugely significant in knocking Millwall out of their stride. And with on loan striker Wilson Isidor, 24, having found the back of the net five times in his first 12 appearances, they have the capability to do so. Creating opportunities for him will be key.

Like Harris pointed out, Sunderland are top of the league for a reason, and now have to show exactly how and why they got there. The very fact the Black Cats are top can be a daunting prospect for the opposition.

But at a ground with an intimidatory atmosphere, Millwall possess their own unique brand of hostility too. It’s not called the Lions’ Den without good reason. For those in red-and-white, it won’t be for the faint-hearted.

So Le Bris’ side will at times have to show their resilient side and mental strength but getting that all-important first goal of the contest could be match-defining.