The lowdown on Millwall 1 Sunderland 1 – Azeez delights The Den home support with stoppage-time equaliser
Femi Azeez scored an equaliser in the 93rd minute at the The Den as Millwall extended their unbeaten run to eight with a 1-1 draw against Sunderland.
It was nothing less than the Lions deserved as the substitute converted from Aidomo Emakhu’s left-wing cross at the back past to cancel out Aaron Connolly’s first-half goal.
Here is the lowdown on the match.
THE LINE-UPS
Millwall: Jensen, Leonard, Hutchinson (Langstaff 90), Cooper, Bryan, Saville (Emakhu 90), De Norre, Honeyman (Bradshaw 46), Esse, Watmore (Azeez 74), Coburn (Ivanovic 77). Subs not used: Roberts, McNamara, Wallace, Wintle.
Sunderland: Patterson, Neil, Ballard, Rigg, Mayenda, O’Nien, Isidor, Connolly (Aleksic 58), Mepham, Watson, Alese. Subs not used: Moore, Ba, Aouchiche, Johnson, Anderson, Ogunsuyi, Jones, Middlemas.
SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME
Hard to know where to start. The match finished well after five o’clock as two medical emergencies in the crowd – in separate home areas of the ground – saw the players leave the field in the 41st minute. They did not come back out to warm-up again until 4.10pm. Connolly’s goal was a fine finish from the edge of the penalty area after a Sunderland set-piece was only partially cleared. Millwall struggled with the movement of the league leaders up until the match was brought to a premature stoppage but they looked far more their old, heel-snapping selves in the second period. Tom Bradshaw headed a good chance over from close range and Anthony Patterson parried away a long-range attempt by Josh Coburn. While Azeez will earn the plaudits for finishing off fellow sub Emakhu’s low ball in, it’s worth noting that Lukas Jensen made a big save with his legs from Milan Aleksic to prevent Sunderland making it 2-0 late on – that would have made it game over.
TACTICAL APPROACH
Millwall head coach Neil Harris made five changes with one of those enforced as Jake Cooper, who has picked up a knee injury which could keep him out for 10 weeks, was replaced by Shaun Hutchinson. Tom Bradshaw, Ryan Wintle, Azeez and Danny McNamara – all starters at Stoke City – made way for Joe Bryan, Duncan Watmore, Josh Coburn and George Honeyman. Harris opted to make a change at the interval as he took off Honeyman and partnered Bradshaw with Coburn. The Lions were far more aggressive and dynamic after that – a contrast to the opening 20 minutes when they struggled to put passes together as they were penned into their own half.
STAR MAN
Shaun Hutchinson. The club captain returned to the side due to Cooper’s absence and did not show any signs of rustiness. He was thrust straight into the action, required to make a sliding tackle in the opening seconds. Made the most tackles of any player – six – and also completed the most passes of any Millwall player with 68.
BEST MOMENT
So simple. Azeez being in the right place to convert his first goal for Millwall since his August transfer from Reading. The Den was delirious.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
The officiating of John Busby. Made some strange calls and only seemed to remember he had cards in his pocket in the 77th minute when he booked Romain Esse. Moments before that he had not cautioned Joe Bryan for preventing a counter which looked a nailed on yellow. Millwall’s players did not get a whole lot of joy out of the referee when it came to free-kicks.
A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
How Millwall will cope without Cooper, who is set to be out comfortably into the new year due to a posterior cruciate ligament injury. Hutchinson was excellent as he partnered Japhet Tanganga today, but it is a stretch to think he can play every match over what is going to be a heavy fixture schedule. Ryan Leonard has played on the right of a back three – and may well be an option to fill the void if necessary. Other candidates are Wes Harding or Murray Wallace.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“Sometimes when you are chasing a game you can make bold decisions – throw on six attacking players at the end of it. But needs must at times. The impact from the subs was really impressive.”