Sunderland aim to build on 'positive change' but Mike Dodds ruled duo out of Millwall clash

Sunderland interim boss Mike Dodds is expecting a “really difficult game” against Millwall, but is hoping his side can build on the ‘positive change in direction’ they have enjoyed over the last two weeks as they prepare for the visit of The Lions on Saturday afternoon.

The Black Cats currently sit in 13th in the Championship, but are coming off the back of an impressive 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion and a goalless draw against promotion hopefuls Leeds United at Elland Road last week. Those results, along with five clean sheets in their last six outings, has lifted the mood on Wearside. Dodds has been pleased with the turnaround in form and wants to maintain that upturn when Neil Harris’ side visit the Stadium of Light.

“The two games (Leeds and West Brom) have highlighted our progress out of possession which I have been really pleased with," Dodds said. "My disappointment, with the last two games in particular, were when we got into positive areas of the pitch, we didn’t execute. In those types of games, against two of the stronger teams in the league, you can’t turn down those opportunities.

READ MORE: Sunderland 'in' for ex-Arsenal & Chelsea wonderkid Amani Richards ahead of surprise free transfer

READ MORE: £48 million-rated star reveals Sunderland turned down chance to sign him as a teenager

“I think there are lots of positives around the group, it’s taken us a while to change the direction of the group, and I feel like we are going in the right direction now.

“I think there is some more positivity, particularly around the clean sheets and if you can keep clean sheet as your foundations you give yourself a really strong platform to be successful, so that is something for the next three games that we will be looking to build upon.”

Sunderland full-back Dennis Cirkin and frontman Nazariy Rusyn will definitely not feature this weekend as the pair work their way back to full fitness. Dodds said of Cirkin: “It will definitely be too soon for Dennis. He is very keen to be back among the squad. We want to try and get him on the pitch before the summer, but I think we are going to take it week by week.”

For Ukrainian Rusyn, Dodds admitted it is “touch and go whether we will see Naz again this season". Club captain Corry Evans could feature for the first time since January last year, but Dodds did suggest that his return “maybe next weekend, if not this weekend.”

Millwall venture north virtually safe from the drop as they sit in 16th, and Dodds expects a typically robust performance from the Lions on Saturday afternoon.

“Neil (Harris) has done extremely well in terms of getting the absolute maximum out of what he has got at his disposal," he added. “They’re really well organised, in particular out of possession, with 4-4-2, they are a real threat on transition, and as always are a threat from set-pieces Millwall teams, so he’s got them really, really well organised which as I said previously gives you a really strong foundation in the games.

"Results have picked up for them, it is going to be a really difficult game and we’re going to have to make sure we manage all those bits, if we do that and we’re better with the ball we give ourselves a chance of doing OK in the game.”