IT is a great testament to Michael Bridges' optimism that he is as confident as ever things will turn his way. After all, it is more than 53 months since his last goal after a series of serious injuries restricted a promising career.

Last month Bridges made the return to the club where it all started, Sunderland, in the hope that at 26 he can go some way to recapturing glimpses of the form that persuaded Leeds United to pay £5m for his services in the summer of 1999.

But, after completing the free transfer switch from Bolton to Wearside, his home-coming was not as happy as planned.

A a niggling hamstring problem stopped him from pushing for a place in Mick McCarthy's starting line-up - something the player needs if he is to regain full match fitness.

On his first appearance at Leeds on September 24, there were signs of the quick feet that made him a highly-rated young striker during his first spell with the Black Cats. Then on Saturday he was given his chance in a cameo role to shine on the turf he once graced.

Shine may be the wrong description of his display against Millwall, but it was not until Bridges was introduced that Sunderland found the vital breakthrough in a poor game played in horrendous weather.

Neither side looked like claiming all three points until 21 minutes before the end, when Bridges played the ball to Robinson, whose one-touch pass set another substitute, Liam Lawrence, free down the right wing.

Lawrence delivered a first-class cross that Millwall skipper Kevin Muscat, the man who suffered a serious knee injury in the FA Cup semi-final with Sunderland in April, could only turn in off the crossbar and beyond his own goalkeeper Graham Stack.

Sunderland needed that. They may have had six shots off target but there was no serious effort that tested Stack. The only time the young keeper was called into action by the home side was when Julio Arca's cross-cum-shot from the left flew straight into his hands.

With Stephen Elliott out injured, on-loan striker Simon Johnson and teenager Chris Brown were the players asked to provide the attacking threat. But despite plenty of endeavour, there was no final product and that was why McCarthy introduced Bridges.

Just four minutes after the 26-year-old entered the fray, Sunderland's reward was the fortuitous goal that clinched three points, although it has left Bridges still searching for his first goal since finding the net against Everton on May 8, 2000.

"I can't buy one at the moment," said Bridges, whose last goal in a Sunderland shirt was in the 2-2 draw with Crewe on December 28, 1998. "But as long as we are winning I can't complain too much. It would be nice to score and I have no doubts it will come.

"I have scored in training, so I can't be that bad! I'm fit as a fiddle and it will come because I have great players around me."

There were fears Bridges would have been given a rough ride from the Sunderland supporters, having seen the back end of last season out at rivals Newcastle. But that was not the case and the man from North Shields said: "It was a good reception. It was my first game back here and it was fantastic when I came on.

"Just to come back is great because I've got so many good memories. It's the same doctor here from the last time and he can see I'm in better shape and I feel happy and I'm on top of it."

Millwall, including the FA Cup semi-final success, recorded three wins over Sunderland last season but lacked a cutting edge in the final third this time - highlighted by Mart Poom's incredible save in the first half when he turned a close-range Mark McCammon effort on to the bar.

McCarthy's side passed the ball around much better than their play-off rivals, with Julio Arca pulling the strings in the first half and Carl Robinson coming out on top with his midfield tussle with the fiery Dennis Wise and Jody Morris.

Dean Whitehead, Arca and Steve Caldwell all had decent efforts on goal before Muscat became the match-winner for the wrong side when the Aussie grabbed his own goal.

Bridges curled a 20-yard shot wide of Stack's left post, which would have cemented victory, but the solitary Sunderland goal proved enough to exact revenge for last season, even though McCarthy was not thinking about that, or so he claims.

"We didn't talk about revenge beforehand but it's a nice feeling afterwards," said McCarthy, whose side were in miserly mood at the other end with Scotsmen Neill Collins and Steve Caldwell proving more than a match for strikers McCammon and Neil Harris.

Sunderland, now up to fifth after losing just one of their last seven League games, should have had the opportunity to extend their lead when defender Matt Lawrence man-handled Robinson in the area.

But a spot-kick was not given by referee Michael Jones. And it was Millwall who paid the penalty in the end for an own goal Muscat will want to forget.

Result: Sunderland 1 Millwall 0.

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