Sunderland are preparing for their Championship match against Millwall - but who will start for Mike Dodds’ side?
The Black Cats beat play-off contenders West Brom last weekend, after Pierre Ekwah scored the only goal of the game. Dodds once again opted to play with a back three and wing-backs, but may alter his side’s system this weekend.
Here’s our predicted Sunderland XI to face Millwall at the Stadium of Light:
![The Sunderland keeper has kept five clean sheets in his last six matches and started every league game this season.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmM1MWFmYjg4LTIxZjgtNDRlYi1hMTUzLTBlYWNkOWVlNTM0Nzo2MGJlYTgxNS03NGJhLTRmMjYtOTkxMy1iY2ExYWRhZWM5NjU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. GK: Anthony Patterson
The Sunderland keeper has kept five clean sheets in his last six matches and started every league game this season. Photo: Frank Reid
![Hume is Sunderland’s only outfield player who has started every league game for the Black Cats during the 2023/24 campaign.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjU0MTk2NjI1LWVmNjMtNDQ0Yi1hMzY3LTNmZDYyYzQwNzg2NTpmYjFmMThlNi1lYzg3LTQ3YTEtYWQwMy1mNDEwZjk1OTA0ZWE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. RB: Trai Hume
Hume is Sunderland’s only outfield player who has started every league game for the Black Cats during the 2023/24 campaign. Photo: Frank Reid
![O’Nien helped limit West Brom’s chances in the first half at the Hawthorns, defending crosses into his own penalty area. Sunderland’s defence came under less pressure following a red card for Albion forward Brandon Thomas-Asante on the stroke of half-time.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjdmZThjOTRiLTBiYzQtNDQyNC05OWMyLTAxOTI1MTU4ZDk1MDo3NDg3MTkxNS01YzdmLTRiY2MtOGNiOS1iZmNkNzQxYjI4Njk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. CB: Luke O’Nien
O’Nien helped limit West Brom’s chances in the first half at the Hawthorns, defending crosses into his own penalty area. Sunderland’s defence came under less pressure following a red card for Albion forward Brandon Thomas-Asante on the stroke of half-time. Photo: Frank Reid
![Ballard received plenty of stick from the West Brom fans last weekend but produced an impressive performance, staying calm under pressure.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjNiMWUwNjBjLTQwMjktNGEwYi1hYTI2LWRkNjU5N2VmNmNkMjo1NDg3YWRiOS03NjM4LTQxNTEtYTZmMy0yYjFiYzAxMzEyNTY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. CB: Dan Ballard
Ballard received plenty of stick from the West Brom fans last weekend but produced an impressive performance, staying calm under pressure. Photo: Frank Reid