WITH explosions filling the London sky, it was somehow fitting that Fireworks Night should see Sunderland's six-game unbeaten run go up in smoke.

First-half goals from Dennis Wise and David Livermore ensured the Black Cats would suffer only their second defeat since the end of August as Millwall's potent mix of hard work and non-stop niggling again proved their undoing.

The same combination had been enough to edge last season's FA Cup semi-final and, while wins at Rotherham and Leeds have proved Sunderland's mettle, Mick McCarthy's side allowed themselves to be ruffled again last night by Millwall's antagonistic approach.

Their makeshift defence failed to cope with the lively combination of Jo Tessem and Barry Hayles, with Mark Lynch repeatedly exposed on the right flank and new signings Neill and Danny Collins given a rude awakening as to the reality of life in the Championship.

It might have been Bonfire Night but, rather than staying at home to let off some bangers, Sunderland's hardy fans made the long trip south to watch a game that had more plots than Guy Fawkes.

Millwall were a thorn in the Black Cats' side throughout last season, taking all six points from the two sides' league encounters as well as winning at Old Trafford.

Partial revenge was gained last month when Kevin Muscat's own goal gave Sunderland a 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light, but the chance of securing a first double of the season was squandered through a combination of poor defending and an inability to gain control of the midfield battle.

Bonfire Night might commemorate England's best known turncoat but, in this part of South London at least, Mick McCarthy is seen as a much more treacherous traitor.

The Black Cats boss walked out on Millwall to take over at the Republic of Ireland in 1996 - an act which he was not allowed to forget by the home side's gloating fans.

McCarthy's opposite number, Wise, is no stranger to controversy himself and, true to form, it took the pint-sized player-manager just seven minutes to ensure the evening would go off with a bang.

If the feisty midfielder was a rocket he would be instantly banned - such is the shortness of his fuse - and, after tussling with Jason McAteer in last year's cup semi-final, his first involvement last night was to grapple with Michael Bridges after the Sunderland striker had clipped his heels.

The entire opening quarter was more notable for what was going on off the ball, with Kevin Muscat slapping Julio Arca to the floor out of the referee's view and the Argentinian gaining retribution of a kind by instantly clattering his assailant.

Some football would break out sporadically, with Bridges wasting a fine opportunity to fire Sunderland ahead in the 16th minute.

Josh Simpson's dreadful back-pass left him in the clear but, as he attempted to round Graham Stack, the Millwall goalkeeper was able to palm the ball out of his path before saving Liam Lawrence's tamely-hit follow-up.

Stack was called upon again six minutes later to tip Jeff Whitley's long-range effort over the top while, at the other end, Mark Phillips headed tamely at Thomas Myhre when well placed in the box.

That was the first time Sunderland's defence came under any real pressure but, when the Lions pressed again shortly after the half-hour mark, replacement right-back Lynch handed the home side the initiative.

Lynch, making a rare start in place of the injured Stephen Wright, found himself on the wrong side of Simpson as the Millwall midfielder received the ball from Darren Ward.

There was limited contact as he tried to muscle Simpson out of the way but, while the resultant penalty decision seemed somewhat harsh, Wise duly drilled the spot-kick past Myhre.

Carl Robinson's response was to thrust a hand in Wise's face as the pair tussled - an act of petulance for which he was lucky to escape with just a booking - but Sunderland's stand-in skipper almost responded in a more positive fashion as he rapped a 20-yard curler against the left-hand upright.

That let-off proved crucial to Millwall's cause as, within a minute, the home side had swept to other end and doubled their lead.

Sunderland's backline failed to track Tessem's run down the right-hand channel, and Livermore nipped ahead of Lynch to turn home his low cross from close range.

The second half saw Millwall asserting their authority, with Wise and Marvin Elliott snapping like terriers in midfield and Tessem pulling Sunderland's centre-halves all over the place.

The Norwegian striker brought a fine save from Myhre in the 54th minute, before the Sunderland stopper was saved by the post two minutes later when he let a tame Phillips strike slip through his hands. Hayles also flashed a 20-yarder across the face of goal as Millwall maintained their forward momentum, before Wise almost extended his side's lead with a free-kick that crept just over the top.

Bridges had seen a 20-yard drive tipped round by the post by Stack by that stage and, while the injury-plagued striker continues to look ring rusty, he was always the Sunderland player that looked most likely to turn things around.

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