Dennis Cirkin was forced off injured after heading his second goal of the campaign
A late Sunderland equaliser prevented Millwall from moving into the Championship play-off places after a lively encounter at The Den.
Lions midfielder George Honeyman tapped in on the half-hour after keeper Anthony Patterson spilled Zian Flemming's shot, but the former Black Cats youth player was denied by an offside call.
Jake Cooper put the hosts ahead on the hour, hooking into the net from a corner after Patterson had tipped Honeyman's goalbound effort around the post.
But after mounting pressure, Dennis Cirkin bravely launched himself at Alex Pritchard's free-kick to head the visitors level.
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Cirkin's equaliser preserved Sunderland's nine-game unbeaten away run, stretching back to October, and moves them into ninth, while Millwall climb to seventh, a point outside the play-off spots.
The Black Cats brought in Joe Gelhardt for his debut to replace injured leading scorer Ross Stewart and the Leeds loanee went closest before the break for the visitors when he was denied by a good block.
Yet it was the hosts who carried the greater first-half threat, Mason Bennett sending an early low drive inches wide, while Charlie Cresswell also blasted over from close range.
The Lions brought on Duncan Watmore for his debut at half-time to face his former side and took a deserved lead thanks to Cooper's first goal since October.
The goal brought Tony Mowbray's side to life, with Patrick Roberts having a shot blocked after a sparkling solo run shortly before Cirkin struck.
Oliver Burke came off the bench late on for his second Millwall debut after his latest loan move from Werder Bremen, but his shot was blocked as neither side could force a winner.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsMillwall
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Long2McNamara15Cresswell5Cooper3M Wallace8Mitchell23Saville39Honeyman10Flemming20Bennett9Bradshaw
- 1Long2McNamara15Cresswell5CooperBooked at 32mins3M Wallace8Mitchell23SavilleBooked at 81mins39HoneymanSubstituted forVoglsammerat 84'minutes10Flemming20BennettBooked at 37minsSubstituted forWatmoreat 45'minutes9BradshawSubstituted forBurkeat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Burke11Malone16Shackleton18Leonard19Watmore21Voglsammer33Bialkowski
Sunderland
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Patterson32Hume5Ballard6Batth42Alese24Neil25Michut10Roberts16Diallo20Clarke28Gelhardt
- 1Patterson32HumeBooked at 52mins5Ballard6Batth42AleseSubstituted forCirkinat 67'minutesSubstituted forAndersonat 85'minutes24Neil25MichutSubstituted forEkwahat 85'minutes10Roberts16Diallo20ClarkeSubstituted forPritchardat 63'minutes28GelhardtSubstituted forBaat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Cirkin12Bass17Ba19Bennette21Pritchard39Ekwah45Anderson
Referee:Thomas BramallAttendance:18,524Match StatsHome TeamMillwallAway TeamSunderlandPossessionHome42%Away58%ShotsHome14Away5Shots on TargetHome2Away1CornersHome5Away6FoulsHome19Away10Live Text Post update
Match ends, Millwall 1, Sunderland 1.
90'+7'Full Time
Second Half ends, Millwall 1, Sunderland 1.
90'+6'Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
90'+6'Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Danny Batth (Sunderland).
90'+5'Post update
Attempt missed. Alex Pritchard (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Patrick Roberts.
89'Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Abdoullah Ba replaces Joe Gelhardt.
87'Post update
Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Daniel Neil.
87'Post update
Attempt blocked. Oliver Burke (Millwall) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Duncan Watmore.
85'Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
85'Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Pierre Ekwah replaces Édouard Michut.
85'Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Joseph Anderson replaces Dennis Cirkin because of an injury.
84'Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. Andreas Voglsammer replaces George Honeyman.
84'Substitution
Substitution, Millwall. Oliver Burke replaces Tom Bradshaw.
82'Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland).
82'Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Murray Wallace (Millwall).
81'goalGoal!
Goal! Millwall 1, Sunderland 1. Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Alex Pritchard with a cross following a set piece situation.
81'Booking
George Saville (Millwall) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
81'Post update
Patrick Roberts (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
81'Post update
Foul by George Saville (Millwall).
79'Post update
Offside, Millwall. George Saville tries a through ball, but George Honeyman is caught offside.
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Source: bbc.com