Football League World
·4 February 2023
Football League World
·4 February 2023
Sunderland travel to Millwall this afternoon in aiming to gain an edge on the Lions in the Championship‘s play-off chasing pack.
The Black Cats have been rocked by Ross Stewart’s season-ending injury this week, after the Scotsman was stretchered off at Fulham in the FA Cup last Saturday, with many supporters frustrated that a replacement was not sourced on transfer deadline day.
The qualms of the supporter base could be addressed in the short term via a win in South London this afternoon, but Tony Mowbray knows the levels that the Black Cats will need to hit to make that a reality.
Mowbray gave an insight into his mindset ahead of the clash with the Lions when he spoke to ChronicleLive.
He said: “The point I’m trying to make is that if we are not up for this game at Millwall, we will get beat – we have to find the same intensity levels and adrenaline levels we showed last weekend (against Fulham) at Craven Cottage.
“We will try and impose our style on the game.
“It’s important we don’t get too wrapped up in the opposition in terms of what they bring and what they don’t bring, because then we might stop doing what we are good at.
“As I said when we went to Fulham, we had to be good with the ball because if we keep giving it back to them we won’t get a kick and it will be like attack-versus-defence.
“Against Millwall you have to bring an element of attritional qualities, you have to bring a sword and shield and go to war at times but don’t forget to play because that is what our team is all about.
“If we get wrapped up in a fight, we are probably going to come out second-best.”
It will be interesting to see how Joe Gelhardt rises to the challenge of being the Black Cats’ central striker, with Mowbray requiring greater attacking output from the likes of Alex Pritchard, Jack Clarke and Patrick Roberts.
The Verdict
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The Lions bolstered their forward line with the additions of Oliver Burke and Duncan Watmore at the back end of the transfer window, and Gary Rowett will be seeing the opportunity to climb back into the play-off places in victory.
Rowett has implemented a more aesthetically-pleasing style of play at The Den than what went before him under Neil Harris, but they remain a very solid defensive unit and one of the most dangerous teams in the division from set piece situations.
The Black Cats should take confidence from their 1-1 draw at Fulham last weekend, but cannot afford any lapses in concentration as they look to tame the likes of Zian Flemming and Tom Bradshaw.