Millwall

Alan Browne’s unexpected shift to right-back for Sunderland was a move born out of necessity, but it quickly proved to be an inspired decision. With a mounting injury crisis in defence, head coach Regis Le Bris took a gamble by deploying Browne in an unfamiliar role, while shifting Trai Hume to the left. The reshuffle paid off, with Hume delivering a match-winning performance and Browne adapting seamlessly despite his lack of experience in defence. His solid positioning and composed distribution added an unexpected dimension to Sunderland’s play, neutralizing Millwall’s attacking threats. What was meant to be a temporary fix may now present Le Bris with a serious selection dilemma ahead of the trip to West Brom.