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Femi Azeez came off the bench to score his first Millwall goal in the 93rd-minute and extend Millwall's unbeaten run Substitute Femi Azeez’s first Millwall goal rescued a point for the Lions in added time against Sunderland, who returned to the top of the Championship. The Black Cats led through Aaron Connolly’s 10th-minute volley before the players were taken off the pitch for half an hour while medical staff attended two separate emergencies in the crowd. Millwall were a team transformed after the break and returning Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson pulled off a string of saves to preserve his side's lead. But the hosts eventually found the goal their pressure deserved deep into added time as Azeez tapped in from a cross by fellow sub Aidomo Emakhu to extend the Lions' unbeaten run to eight games. Sunderland's fourth consecutive draw moves them back to the top of the table above Sheffield United, who drew 2-2 at Coventry earlier on Saturday, on goal difference. Aaron Connolly scored his first goal for Sunderland since joining the club from Hull City in the summer Sunderland announced before the game that left-back Dennis Cirkin had had surgery during the international break after breaking his wrist against QPR, as they welcomed back first-choice goalkeeper Patterson after a four-game absence. And it was the visitors who made the perfect start to the match in front of their 3, 000 travelling fans, with Republic of Ireland international Connolly firing a crisp volley past Millwall keeper Lukas Jensen for his first goal for the club. The game was halted shortly before half-time as Millwall's Ryan Leonard waved for the medical staff when he spotted a situation in the crowd, with two fans from separate areas of the stadium receiving medical help. Lions boss Neil Harris sent on Tom Bradshaw at half-time to partner Josh Coburn up front for the hosts. Japhet Tanganga and Bradshaw both went close with headers before Coburn and Casper De Norre forced strong saves from Patterson as Millwall pushed for an equaliser. Millwall ended the game with five attackers on the pitch and fully deserved their point as Azeez came off the bench to equalise with minutes of added time remaining. Millwall boss Neil Harris speaking to BBC Radio London: "It’s 41 minutes [when the players came off] and that's almost a half-time team talk, but you don't know how long you’re going to be in there for. "I had my say after 41 minutes, I was very composed because we knew we were going back out for five minutes – and then at half-time I let them have it properly, because that's what it deserved. " On Millwall’s substitutions: "Sometimes just [throwing] caution to wind. When you're behind sometimes you can do that. "We were trying to get five players against their back four, trying to overload the midfield area and you just hope that you get a moment of quality and we had that. " Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle: "I liked the first half with such a young team in such a tough place to play. We did well and we could have scored more because we had many situations to exploit. "During the second half, [it] was more difficult because they used their direct play. We struggled with the second ball to escape the pressure. "The scenario is difficult to digest but in the second half they deserved to score at least one goal, so it's not a big surprise [that they equalised] - but over the game I think we deserved the point and probably, with that scenario, we could have won. " Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 23rd November 2024 at 17: 21 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Neil Harris Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Régis Le Bris Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Neil Harris Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Régis Le Bris Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Millwall have lost just one of their last seven league games against Sunderland (W2 D4) despite both scoring and conceding eight goals during that run. Sunderland have won just one of their last 12 away league games against Millwall (D5 L6). Each of the last three such matches between the pair at the Den have finished 1-1. Millwall have won their last three home league games, winning all three 1-0. They last won four in a row at the Den in October 2022, while they last did so with a clean sheet each time in March 2010 in League One. Sunderland have picked up 31 points in 15 Championship games this season (W9 D4 L2), their best start to a season at this level since 1998-99 (also 31 points) when they eventually won the league. Millwall’s Casper De Norre is the only Championship player this season to make both 30+ tackles (31) and 30+ interceptions (30). Match ends, Millwall 1, Sunderland 1. Second Half ends, Millwall 1, Sunderland 1. Goal! Millwall 1, Sunderland 1. Femi Azeez (Millwall) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Aidomo Emakhu. Attempt saved. Milan Aleksic (Sunderland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Wilson Isidor. Attempt missed. Japhet Tanganga (Millwall) header from very close range misses to the right. Assisted by Romain Esse with a cross following a corner. Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Aji Alese. Substitution, Millwall. Macaulay Langstaff replaces Shaun Hutchinson. Substitution, Millwall. Aidomo Emakhu replaces George Saville. Foul by Femi Azeez (Millwall). Aji Alese (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Chris Mepham (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Mihailo Ivanovic (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Chris Mepham (Sunderland). Romain Esse (Millwall) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Romain Esse (Millwall). Chris Rigg (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Attempt missed. Tom Bradshaw (Millwall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Femi Azeez with a headed pass. Foul by Tom Bradshaw (Millwall). Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half. © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.