Sunderland gave their Premier League survival hopes a boost on Saturday as they earned a dramatic 2-2 draw at Cardiff City.
Goals from Jordon Mutch and Fraizer Campbell put the hosts 2-0 up with around 30 minutes left on the clock in South Wales.
However, Steven Fletcher pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 83rd minute before Jack Colback equalised in the fifth minute of stoppage time for the Black Cats.
Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the action between the two teams at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Match statistics:
Cardiff:
Shots 16
On target 7
Possession 44%
Corners 6
Fouls 14
Sunderland:
Shots 21
On target 9
Possession 56%
Corners 6
Fouls 10
Was the result fair?
Sunderland can count themselves fortunate to have got anything out of the match following a dominant display from Cardiff. The hosts were in control for large periods of the match, but the visitors took advantage of some late nerves to steal a point in the Welsh capital.
Cardiff's performance
The home side were rampant during the first half as they bombarded the Sunderland goal with plenty of ferocious football. However, their wastefulness in front of goal was a factor in their downfall. Chance after chance fell the way of the hosts, but some poor finishing stopped them from pulling away from their opponents. They competed well for much of the second half, though things changed when Sunderland pulled a goal back. From then on the Cardiff players looked frozen and were ultimately caught out by the away side's persistence.
Sunderland's performance
The Black Cats were woeful during the opening 45 minutes as they struggled to string a couple of passes together, let alone get out of their own half. There was little in the way of focus, organisation or commitment, and they were simply overwhelmed by a Cardiff side that just looked like that they wanted it more. It was a similar story for much of the second half, though there was some sort of improvement from Gus Poyet's men. They were given a lift when Steven Fletcher reduced the deficit inside the final 10 minutes and were able to build on that before getting an equaliser. It might have been a lucky result, but that could just be the sort of luck that they need to get out of trouble.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Jordon Mutch: The Cardiff midfielder embarrassed himself inside the first minute when he was booked for diving, but he excelled after that with a superbly dynamic display that constantly gave the Sunderland defence a headache. Still only 22, he was rewarded for his efforts by netting his side's first goal of the night.
Biggest gaffe
Cardiff owner Vincent Tan will not have done his popularity with the fans any favours after being seen booing the team off the pitch at the end of the match.
Referee performance
Chris Foy made a big statement by booking Jordon Mutch for diving in the first minute before going on to control the match sensibly. The official was forced to make five bookings in total, though all of those were justified as the contest remained fiercely contested.
What next?
Cardiff: The Bluebirds continue their Premier League campaign on Wednesday when they make the trip to Arsenal.
Sunderland: The Black Cats are back in Premier League action on Wednesday as Aston Villa visit the Stadium of Light.
Jack Prescott
