Millwall 1-1 Sunderland: Black Cats deny Lions with late equaliser
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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.
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 to replace Bennett, who was treated during half-time for what looked a serious ankle injury, 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.
Millwall manager Gary Rowett:
"I thought it was an incredible atmosphere, that's the one thing you notice.
"Our fans, when they pack this out, this stadium has a very unique atmosphere, so I thought that really helped the game.
"They've had one shot on target with the goal and we've had like 15 shots and lots and lots of moments were very contentious.
"In my opinion, and I've watched them back so I'm not just sat here bleating about it as a manager that hasn't won the game.
"I thought we should have had a penalty first half, Tom Bradshaw gets the other side of a full-back, the full-back pulls him then pushes him in the back.
"The referees need to be sure and he just said: 'I didn't feel there was quite enough contact to be a penalty."
Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray told BBC Newcastle:
"I think we're left a little bit frustrated, not with the result because we didn't lose, but that we couldn't get our passing game going more often - it seemed to be stop-start.
"Without Corry (Evans) and without Ross (Stewart) two more young players were playing and I thought they stood up to the intimidation of the day, of the stadium, of the noise, of how the game unfolded.
"They've got a fantastic home record and you can see why and we came and we didn't lose with a really young side.
"It was important to keep it going, to keep believing, to keep testing ourselves and yet you feel when they put such effort into a game, with another game three or four days down the road, it becomes more and more difficult."
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