Patrick van Aanholt struck seven minutes from time but it was not enough to earn a first Premier League win for Sunderland, as they were held to a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.
The Black Cats, who climb one place to 19th thanks to just a second point of the campaign, found a way through late on to deny their opponents a rare victory on their travels.
Jermain Defoe squandered a glorious chance early on to edge his side ahead when failing to find a way past Fraser Forster in a straight shootout with his compatriot.
Up the other end it was proving to be a busy afternoon for Jordan Pickford, who once more enhanced his reputation with a string of fine stops - the first arriving 15 minutes in to deny Nacer Chadli on the spin.
Matt Phillips was the next to be denied by Pickford soon after, but the Baggies' opening goal eventually arrived through the lively Chadli, who slotted the ball beyond the reach of the young keeper.
West Brom ended the half the stronger after making the breakthrough, although Sunderland were never out of the game and they would receive a blessing in disguise 55 minutes in when Van Aanholt replaced the injured Jan Kirchhoff.
Pickford was needed to deny Darren Fletcher on the hour as the visitors closed in on a second of the afternoon, with Solomon Rondon also coming close, but the missed opportunities would prove costly as Van Aanholt picked his spot inside the final 10 minutes to rescue his side a point.
Daniel Lewis
