Hutchinson goal denies struggling Sunderland a much-needed win at Millwall

Posted Sunday, March 04, 2018 by PA

Sunderland remain rooted to the foot of the Sky Bet Championship table after Shaun Hutchinson’s second-half equaliser pegged them back to a 1-1 draw at Millwall.
The Black Cats claimed a first-half lead through a long-range effort from Bryan Oviedo, but Hutchinson’s scrambled effort from a corner means they have recorded just five league victories all season.
The point was not what they required as they look to scramble to safety and also did little to aid Millwall’s slim prospects of claiming a play-off place, with Neil Harris’ side now eight points adrift of the top six.
Sunderland boss Chris Coleman rang the changes before kick-off, making six alterations from the team that drew with Middlesbrough seven days earlier – and his tinkering was rewarded as his side claimed a deserved first-half advantage.
However, Millwall might well feel they should have claimed a sixth-minute lead. Jake Cooper found himself completely unmarked from a corner but Lee Cattermole was able to hack away the defender’s goalbound header from a position on the goalline.
The next opportunity came at the other end of the field, and while Ashley Fletcher was unable to make any connection with Adam Matthews’ dangerous driven cross, the fact the Black Cats were getting on the front foot was nevertheless positive from their perspective.
Callum McManaman fired over when a corner was cleared into his direction midway through the first half, but the next time Sunderland tried their luck from distance four minutes later, the deadlock was broken.
Oviedo played a neat one-two with Aiden McGeady in a pre-rehearsed short corner routine, and drifted infield towards the corner of the area. There appeared to be little danger when he took aim with his left foot, but he arced a sensational strike that found the top right-hand corner.
Millwall’s players appeared shell-shocked by the concession, although Jason Steele was forced to produce a decent save as he parried Shaun Williams’ low strike shortly before the break.
The hosts started the second half with an increased sense of purpose and Steele produced two good stops to deny Lee Gregory, claiming the striker’s scuffed shot before tipping his looping header over the crossbar.
The Sunderland goalkeeper also kept out Steve Morison’s back-post volley – but the Lions hauled themselves level from the subsequent corner.
The visitors’ defenders failed to clear Ben Marshall’s delivery and although Cattermole thought he had blocked Hutchinson’s stabbed effort, referee Andy Davies adjudged that the ball had crossed the line.