Wise puts Millwall back on track

Millwall 2 Sunderland

Such was the invective raining down on Mick McCarthy at The Den last night you got the feeling that, on Guy Fawkes' night, they might have been burning effigies of the Sunderland manager in south London.

However, a deserved Millwall victory sufficed for most, despite the painful memories of McCarthy leaving the Lions nine years ago when they were top of this division, only for them to be relegated that same season.

This was the first win in five games for Dennis Wise's men. However wins over Sunderland are not so rare, as they beat the Black Cats in their FA Cup semi-final last April.

Ray Wilkins, Wise's assistant, said: "We played well and got the result we deserved. There is a healthy rivalry between us on the back of our three games against them last season."

Outnumbered in midfield by the home side's five men and harried and pressured for every ball, the Black Cats were knocked out of their stride. Yet Sunderland should have taken the lead when Josh Simpson's back-pass was under-hit. But with Graham Stack drawn off his line, Michael Bridges' shot was too close to the goalkeeper.

Millwall's approach was exemplified by Wise picking up a booking inside the first 10 minutes and in one of the key battles, Kevin Muscat would not let Julio Arca pass without a struggle. Muscat won that early contest as Arca picked up a booking.

Further evidence of Sunderland's torrid evening came 12 minutes before the interval when Simpson cut inside Mark Lynch before he was barged to the ground, and from the penalty, Wise thumped his shot past Thomas Myhre.

On the brink of half-time, Carl Robinson hit the post for the visitors and on Millwall's next attack they had their second goal. Jo Tessem got in a cross for David Livermore who got between two defenders to tap home from short range.

Millwall (3-5-2): Stack; M Lawrence, Ward, Phillips; Muscat (Dunne, 85), Livermore, Wise, Elliott, Simpson; Hayles (Dichio, 88), Tessem. Substitutes not used: Marshall (gk), McCammon, Robinson.

Sunderland (4-4-2): Myhre; Lynch (Whitehead, 58), Caldwell, N Collins, D Collins; L Lawrence (Brown, 58), Whitley, Robinson, Arca (Carter, 68); Stewart, Bridges. Substitutes not used: Thornton, Alnwick.

Referee: A Marriner (West Midlands).

Championship table, page 88