STREAM HERE >>> Millwall vs Sunderland free stream online Championship League Full HD
Sunderland have endured a mixed period since the arrival of Tony Mowbray, winning just five of their 14 matches, but the break for the World Cup came at the wrong time for the North East outfit.
Seven points were collected from four games, their most recent outing resulting in an impressive 2-1 triumph away at Birmingham City on November 11.
Each of the points mentioned came from fixtures away from the Stadium of Light, ensuring that Sunderland currently possess the third-best away record in the division.
That highlights the issues which have been encountered at their home ground, Sunderland winning just two of nine games and losing their most recent two fixtures on familiar territory.
Sunderland participated in just one keep-busy fixture during the break, travelling to Dubai and earning a 1-0 success against Al Shabab.
Although Ross Stewart is pushing for a return from injury, the club’s top goalscorer is unlikely to start if passed fit due to being absent since August.
Barring any fitness issues, Mowbray may be prepared to name the same side which impressed at St Andrew’s, with Niall Huggins retaining his spot at left-back.
Defender Dan Ballard remains out of contention for the Black Cats as he continues his recovery from a foot injury.
Millwall could line up with the team which defeated Preston if they have no suffered any issues during the break.
George Honeyman was replaced early in the second half at Deepdale, but the former Hull City man featured in the recent friendly against Brondby.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, Wright, Batth, Huggins; Neil, Evans; Diallo, Pritchard, Clarke; Simms
Millwall possible starting lineup:
Long; McNamara, Cresswell, Cooper, Wallace; Mitchell, Saville; Voglsammer, Flemming, Honeyman; Bradshaw
In the week that the Bulls lost their most famous ex-player, FA Cup legend Ronnie Radford – 50 years on from his iconic match-winning goal against Newcastle – it briefly looked like there might be some left-over magic in the air.
For seven minutes, the sixth-tier outfit led after Miles Storey’s goal against the team 81 places above them in the English football pyramid in League One.
But Pompey hit back, with Reeco Hackett quickly levelling before second-half goals from Colby Bishop and substitute Joe Pigott earned the twice FA Cup winners a safe passage to Monday’s second-round draw
Making their first trip to Edgar Street in 38 years, Pompey were given a good first-half workout by the fired-up hosts.
Although home keeper Dale Eve had to keep out Hackett’s left-foot curler bound for the top corner, Pompey had a first real scare when Bishop’s challenge on Hereford’s former million-pound marksman Tyrone Barnett in the visitors’ penalty box went unpunished.
And there was worse to follow for Pompey when Hereford took the lead on 26 minutes.
Sean Raggett played a loose pass inside to Hackett, who was immediately closed down and robbed by Storey – and the former Pompey player raced away down the inside-left channel before keeping his cool to nutmeg on-loan West Bromwich Albion keeper Josh Griffiths.
Fittingly, just two days on from the announcement of the sad passing of Hereford’s legendary number 11, their modern-day number 11 emulated his predecessor.
There had already been a minute’s silence, which cascaded into applause from the whole ground, followed by chants of ‘there’s only one Ronnie Radford’ when the clock showed 11 minutes.
But this goal was destined not to prove so famous.
Ronan Curtis headed down Connor Ogilvie’s far-post cross for Hackett to bring down and fire home coolly from six yards.
On 63 minutes, Portsmouth took the lead when, from Clark Robertson’s in-swinging right-foot corner from the left, Bishop timed his run to get there first and head his 10th goal of the season.
And Pigott wrapped up victory 10 minutes from time when, again from a corner by skipper Robertson, Bishop won the initial header before Pigott reacted sharpest to sidefoot home
Hereford FC boss Josh Gowling told BBC Sport:
“I’m really disappointed because we should have got something out of it, but goals change games – and the quality of the delivery they have changes games.
“In the first half we were excellent. We were in the ascendancy and they looked nervous.
STREAM LINKS >>> Stream 1 Stream 2 Stream 3
“We were on top and looked like we could go on and win, but we’ve made one mistake, it has cost us a goal and that’s the difference in levels.
“We’ve given them a leg up and a little lift and you could see their performance raise after that.”
Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley told BBC Sport:
“I was so sad to hear the news about Ronnie Radford. He was such an iconic figure and he had that iconic moment. For a lot of people my age, his famous goal was their first memories of the FA Cup. But what a brilliant night to celebrate his life