More injury misery in Millers' away defeat ... on-the-whistle report: Sunderland 2 Rotherham United 1

The Millers, already unable to name a full bench because of their casualty count, lost scorer Hakeem Odoffin who limped off not long after giving his side the lead on Wearside.

The home team hit back to claim their first points of the season, leaving Matt Taylor's men still looking for their first win of the campaign.

Once Sunderland had gone in front in the early stages of the second period, they dominated the contest and there was no way back for the Millers.

A bright spot was the performance of new boy Christ Tiehi, making his debut only a day after his move was confirmed and immediately looking very decent in a defensive midfield role.

There were no chances in an uneventful start, which suited Rotherham fine as they sought to quieten the crowd at the largest-capacity stadium in the division.

On 20 minutes the match burst into life when the Millers took the lead through Odoffin who latched on to Ollie Rathbone's cross from the right and never looked like missing.

The midfielder crashed the ball past Anthony Patterson from around eight yards for his second goal in two games. 'Low and hard' is his shooting mantra and low and hard his effort was as it flew into the net

With the crowd duly quietened,  the visitors needed to hang on to their lead, but it lasted for only  two minutes.

Viktor Johansson almost pulled off a superb save as he got in the way of Jobe Bellingham's header following Dan Neil's headed supply back across goal from Jack Clarke's cross but the ball just made it over the line.

There was more woe for Rotherham soon afterwards when Odoffin was unable to continue.

Cafu forced a stop from Patterson with a free-kick and at the other end a shot from Pierre Ekwah brought a routine Johansson save.

The Millers had handed debuts to Tiehi and fellow summer signing Andre Green while centre-forward Tom Eaves was named among eight substitutes after recovering from a calf injury.

Grant Hall wasn't risked as he nears full fitness following a hamstring issue and two other players who didn't make the squad were Ben Wiles and Georgie Kelly.

The Black Cats were unchanged from their 2-1 loss at Preston North End last week.

Rotherham fell behind seven minutes after the break when Cameron Humphreys' loose pass out of defence ended with Bradley Dack playing in 17-year-old Bellingham who produced a quality finish into the corner to claim his second goal of the contest.

Humphreys redeemed himself with a block that denied the Black Cats man a hat-trick as Rotherham survived a spell of heavy pressure.

That under-strength bench left Taylor without enough options to change the course of the game

Eaves and Josh Kayode entered the fray up front but most of the action remained in the Millers' half and home sub Luis Hemir whistled a shot just wide as the clocked ticked down on a Rotherham afternoon that started well but ended in disappointment.

Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Anthony Patterson; Trai Hume, Daniel Ballard, Luke O'Nien, Dennis Cirkin; Dan Neil, Pierre Ekwah; Patick Roberts (Alex Pritchard 77), Jobe Bellingham (Luis Hemir 85), Jack Clarke; Bradley Dack (Lynden Gooch 85). Subs not used: Nathan Bishop, Niall Huggins, Danny Batth, Abdoullah Ba, Jewison Bennette, NexariosTriantis

Rotherham (4-3-3): Viktor Johansson; Dexter Lembikisa, Cameron Humphreys, Tyler Blackett, Cohen Bramall; Hakeem Odoffin (Ciaran McGuckin 29), Christ Tiehi (Tolaji Bola 76), Cafu; Ollie Rathbone, Jordan Hugill (Tom Eaves 67), Andre Green ( Josh Kayode 67). Subs not used: Dillon Phillips, Sean Morrison, Jamie McCart, Josh Ayres.

Goals: Odoffin 20 (Rotherham); Bellingham 22, 52 (Sunderland).

Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey).

Attendance: 40,688.