A four-goal hometown hero, a 16-minute hat-trick and some bruising brushes with the country’s most infamous hooligans. Sunderland and Millwall’s sporadic meetings over the years have not been short on drama.
Here are four of the Black Cats’ most memorable encounters with the Lions as they prepare to visit their fellow Championship play-off chasers at the New Den on Saturday.
Millwall 0-1 Sunderland – March 3, 1979 – old Division Two
The Black Cats maintained their outside hopes of promotion to the top flight by following up a famous derby victory at Newcastle with a narrow win, courtesy of Wayne Entwistle.
Billy Elliott’s men took the lead midway through the second half in south east London when Entwistle beat Middlesbrough-born goalkeeper Pat Cuff for his third goal in four games.
READ MORE: Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray sets out next step for new signings Joe Anderson and Isaac Lihadji
The defence stayed tight and secured their first clean sheet in 13 games, with youngster Ian Watson making what would be his sole Sunderland league appearance.
But travelling Black Cats fans suffered at the hands of Millwall’s hooligan element, who themselves had been on the wrong end of trouble at Roker Park in previous seasons and were intent on revenge.
Sunderland 6-0 Millwall – December 9, 1995, old Division One
Live TV cameras saw unsung hometown striker Craig Russell enjoy the high point of his career with four goals as the high-flying Lions were mauled by Peter Reid’s promotion-chasers at Roker Park.
Martin Scott put the Black Cats ahead from the penalty spot in the 16th minute, slotting into the left-hand corner after Sunderland old boy Anton Rogan fouled Phil Gray.
Russell doubled the lead when Martin Smith sent him clear in the 33rd minute, and then the fun really began six minutes after half-time, as Phil Gray headed home a cross from Scott to make it 3-0.
Only seven minutes later, Russell matched his striking partner with a fantastic diving header from another Scott cross, before Phil Gray turned provider to tee up the 21-year-old for his hat-trick.
There was still time for Russell to add his fourth and Sunderland’s sixth from close range in injury-time, as Reid’s men went three points clear of Millwall and five other clubs at the top of the table on their way to winning the division.
Sunderland 6-2 Millwall - January 11, 1992, old Division One
Don Goodman scored a 16-minute hat-trick as Sunderland’s revival under Malcolm Crosby continued with their fifth successive home win and a four-place jump to 11th in the old Division One table.
Paul Hardyman opened the scoring for the Black Cats with a spectacular strike after 15 minutes, only for future Sunderland midfielder Alex Rae to equalise from close range in the 31st minute.
John Byrne regained the lead for Sunderland in the 55th minute, courtesy of Brian Atkinson’s pass, before Goodman went crazy.
Just two minutes after Byrne’s goal, Peter Davenport set up Goodman’s first goal before the striker struck again almost straight from the restart by heading home a Gordon Armstrong cross diverted into his path by future Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy.
The third came in the 73rd minute – a stylish, close-range finish from John Kay’s cross. Despite Millwall being able to pull one back through Paul Kerr in the 82nd minute, Peter Davenport sealed an iconic victory for the Black Cats in the 86th minute.
Millwall 1-4 Sunderland - August 17, 1974, old Division Two
Sunderland started their season in the old Division Two in style with a fantastic victory at the Old Den which marked Bryan Robson’s first game for the Black Cats.
After 20 minutes, Bobby Kerr opened the scoring for Sunderland, before Tony Towers doubled their lead seven minutes before half-time.
Harry Cripps gave Millwall hope going by making it 2-1 just before the interval, but Vic Halom restored Sunderland’s two-goal cushion with 10 minutes left, before Billy Hughes rounded off the win in the 89th minute.
However, the game again saw repeated clashes between Sunderland’s travelling supporters and Millwall’s hooligan element, who were accused of attacking even elderly away fans in the main stand.
READ NEXT
- Tony Mowbray admits his 'disappointment' as Sunderland miss out on deadline day striker targets
- Sunderland's 1973 Road to Wembley relived: 'King Charlie' returns to Roker Park
- Kristjaan Speakman explains January loan departures of Bailey Wright, Jay Matete and Leon Dajaku
- Kristjaan Speakman insists Sunderland's failure to land a striker was not due to lack of ambition
- Sunderland confirm extent of Ross Stewart's injury as striker is ruled out for the season
