Sunderland return to action this weekend following the international break. The EFL has confirmed that John Busby will referee Sunderland’s match against Millwall this Saturday at The Den. The Black Cats travel to London hoping to continue their outstanding start to the Championship season. Regis Le Bris’ side leads the table, along with Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United, as they aim to gain promotion to the Premier League. They drew 2-2 at home with managerless Coventry City before the international break and will be looking to win again against the Lions on Saturday afternoon.
Busby has overseen 11 Football League games this season, ten of which have been in the second division. His assistant referees will be Mark Russell and Robert Hyde, with Paul Howard serving as the fourth official. Sunderland manager Le Bris was dissatisfied with his players after they drew with Coventry in their previous game and failed to get three points. He later stated, “Our strength, qualities at home, in possession, we created many opportunities to score, with two fantastic goals.” Probably, in the first half, our out of possession was not good. We tried to solve these issues.
“We have strength, and we must build upon it. It is a question of consistency, weakness, and commitment, and the players must understand what to do when up against a team like Coventry.” Sunderland’s future opponents. Millwall, Sunderland’s prospective opponents, have performed well this season. Neil Harris’ side is now in eighth place, two points behind the play-offs, and one of the division’s most in-form clubs.
The Lions have 23 points from their first 15 games and have only lost four. They are unbeaten in their previous seven games, surrendering only twice, and they are proving to be a difficult team to beat at the back. They drew 1-1 away at Stoke City in their most recent match, and Harris stated afterwards, “It’s not just the point today, it’s the seven points in the week.” That is huge for us, and I’m sure Stoke will be pleased with their week as well, given how difficult it is in the Championship.
“I’ve been extremely careful what I say before this game because I don’t want it to damage the football club or my players, but we finished last Sunday at 5:15pm against Burnley, and this is our third game in six days; that’s crazy. We are put in these situations, so tremendous credit to my guys for their fighting spirit, and some really good chances were produced.”
Harris was appointed by Millwall in February and returned for a second stint, having previously been with the club from 2015 to 2019. He has already won 15 of his first 30 matches since his return. Previously, the 47-year-old worked for Cardiff City, Gillingham, and Cambridge United.
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