Alex Pritchard coolly picked his spot for Sunderland to make it 2-0 in a much improved second half
Sunderland's rousing second-half display secured a convincing victory against an in-form Millwall to move them within a point of the Championship top six.
After an insipid first 45 minutes in which Millwall's Zian Flemming missed a golden chance just before half-time, the Wearsiders hit the front soon after the break when Amad Diallo smashed home an Ellis Simms flick at the back post.
With the crowd fired up, and Sunderland's tails up, Alex Pritchard hammered his angled shot past George Long to double the lead shortly after, following good work by Lynden Gooch to pick him out.
Millwall were not quelled despite the setback, and Anthony Patterson had to be alert to turn over a swirling Flemming cross.
Simms finally put any fading hopes of a fightback to bed in stoppage time, when he latched on to a long ball over the top, lofted over the keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net.
Few inside the Stadium of Light on a chilly December afternoon could have predicted the second-half fireworks from the home side after an opening half which was punctuated by referee Tim Robinson's whistle.
The ball was an aside for much of the half, as both sides clattered and niggled, conceding free-kicks and failed to give creativity much of an option.
That said, Gary Rowett's visitors were the better side initially with possession and some impressive touches out wide from Andreas Voglsammer in particular, but failed to create too many clear-cut chances.
Diallo should have shot when he instead tried to be cute inside the box for Sunderland, while Flemming was handed a gift of a chance in the final seconds of the half after Patterson's careless clearance was placed straight to him, but the snapshot trickled wide.
Whatever Mowbray said to his players at the break had a regenerative effect, as they found rhythm and purpose to their play.
Pritchard was a major influence, playing a key role in one goal and scoring the other, before making way for Elliot Embleton.
Simms' running of the channels allowed Sunderland to bypass the giant Charlie Cresswell and Jake Cooper at the back, as Millwall's earlier dominance evaporated, and his late goal was reward for that toil.
While Sunderland edge closer to the play-off places, the loss sees Millwall drop out on goal difference.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsSunderland
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Patterson11Gooch13O'Nien6Batth42Alese4Evans24Neil16Diallo21Pritchard20Clarke9Simms
- 1Patterson11GoochBooked at 73mins13O'Nien6Batth42Alese4Evans24Neil16DialloSubstituted forRobertsat 74'minutes21PritchardSubstituted forEmbletonat 63'minutes20ClarkeSubstituted forCirkinat 80'minutes9Simms
Substitutes
- 3Cirkin7Dajaku8Embleton10Roberts12Bass17Ba32Hume
Millwall
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Long2McNamara15Cresswell5Cooper3M Wallace8Mitchell23Saville21Voglsammer10Flemming39Honeyman9Bradshaw
- 1Long2McNamaraSubstituted forEvansat 83'minutes15Cresswell5Cooper3M WallaceSubstituted forMaloneat 83'minutes8MitchellBooked at 41mins23SavilleBooked at 22minsSubstituted forShackletonat 66'minutes21VoglsammerSubstituted forBennettat 66'minutes10Flemming39HoneymanBooked at 34minsSubstituted forStylesat 66'minutes9Bradshaw
Substitutes
- 4Hutchinson6Evans11Malone16Shackleton17Styles20Bennett33Bialkowski
Referee:Tim RobinsonAttendance:37,012Match StatsHome TeamSunderlandAway TeamMillwallPossessionHome54%Away46%ShotsHome11Away19Shots on TargetHome5Away5CornersHome1Away8FoulsHome10Away19Live Text Post update
Match ends, Sunderland 3, Millwall 0.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, Sunderland 3, Millwall 0.
90'+5'Post update
Attempt saved. Scott Malone (Millwall) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jamie Shackleton.
90'+3'goalGoal!
Goal! Sunderland 3, Millwall 0. Ellis Simms (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Anthony Patterson.
90'+1'Post update
Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Luke O'Nien.
90'+1'Post update
Attempt blocked. Mason Bennett (Millwall) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Malone.
90'Post update
Daniel Neil (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'Post update
Foul by Zian Flemming (Millwall).
88'Post update
Attempt saved. Billy Mitchell (Millwall) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
88'Post update
Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Lynden Gooch.
85'Post update
Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Luke O'Nien.
83'Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. George Evans replaces Dan McNamara.
83'Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. Scott Malone replaces Murray Wallace.
81'Post update
Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
81'Post update
Foul by Callum Styles (Millwall).
80'Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Dennis Cirkin replaces Jack Clarke.
75'Post update
Corry Evans (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
75'Post update
Foul by Zian Flemming (Millwall).
74'Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Patrick Roberts replaces Amad Diallo.
73'Post update
Ellis Simms (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Page 1 of 6rewindpreviousNavigate to the next pagenextNavigate to the last pageforward
Source: bbc.com