Sunderland suffered defeat in their penultimate home game of the season losing by a goal to nil against Millwall.
The Lads started the livelier of the two sides. A flighted corner was met by Luke O’Nien whose header back across goal was met by Dan Ballard who couldn’t divert the ball on target.
Just before the midway point of the first half, Aji Alese broke free down the left and cut back to Callum Styles but he saw his shot deflected wide of the mark.
A change at the halfway point saw Trai Hume thrown into the mix in the hopes of inspiring a breakthrough for the hosts. The Northern Irishman tested the resolve of the visitors with a shot from distance that went over the bar.
Timothée Pembélé was the next to test the hands of Matija Sarkic with a low shot on the edge of the box.
Further substitutes also had their say in the game with Abdoullah Ba and Adil Aouchiche combining well in the Millwall box. Aouchiche’s goalbound effort was blocked by Ryan Leonard.
The visitors nudged in front in the 72nd minute when Ryan Longman’s low cross was diverted into beyond Patterson by the boot of Duncan Watmore.
The Lads forced the issue again when a touch from Hume inside the box set himself up for a bending effort that was well held by Sarkic.
Corry Evans made his appearance for the Club in over 15 months after a long lay-off through a knee injury.
The Lads are next in action on their final away game of the season when they travel to Watford next weekend.
SAFC XI: Patterson; Pembélé (Ba 62’), O’Nien ©, Ballard, Alese (Mundle 80’), Styles (Evans 80’); Ekwah, Jobe, Rigg (Aouchiche 62’), Clarke; Dack (Hume 45’).
Subs: Bishop, Luis Hemir, Burstow, Hjelde.