For once, a Light show is a dazzler
GAMES at the Stadium of Light have longsince become a chore - but this one served as a reminder that they can also be occasions to enjoy.
Six goals, two red cards, a penalty, a dramatic 96th-minute equaliser - no- one could claim to be shortchanged in the entertainment stakes here.
It was a see-saw game in which the balance tipped first one way then the other.
Joel Asoro’s early goal gave Sunderland the early advantage, then the dismissal of Jake Clarke-Salter for a scything tackle on Adama Traore put Middlesbrough in the driving seat - only for Traore to then see red for raising his hands to Bryan Oviedo, which evened things up once more.
Over to Boro as the alltoo familiar ‘Sunderland wobble’ set in soon after half-time, quickfire goals from Patrick Bamford and a penalty dispatched by exSunderland man Grant Leadbitter turning the scoreline around in the space of four minutes.
The Black Cats fought back to level through Jonny Williams, only to then concede a sloppy third goal with Bamford the beneficiary.
However, Callum McManaman’s lastgasp goal - his first for the club - provided the finale and then the post-script as he rubbed Boro boss Tony Pulis’ nose in it, the pair clearly having had their differences when together at West Brom.
The draw meant Sunderland remained bottom of the table but, crucially, did not lose any ground in the fight against relegation - the gap between themselves and safety still four points.
Of course, if the Wearsiders are to survive they need wins rather than draws.
After going ahead at home and scoring three goals, glass half-empty types will see this as a missed opportunity.
The other side of the coin is for once they refused to buckle despite losing the lead at home - no mean feat for a team which has disintegrated at the SOL more times than I care to remember - twice came from behind against a side which still harbours play-off aspirations and showed exactly the kind of grit, determination, and fighting spirit needed to beat the drop.
Either way, it was another small step in the right direction following their improved midweek performance at Bolton, which ultimately came to nought because it ended in defeat. It came at a cost, however. Clarke-Salter’s indiscretion will land him a three-match ban, ruling him out of the trip to Millwall on Saturday, the midweek home game against Aston Villa which follows and then the visit to QPR the following weekend.
Midfielder Paddy McNair limped out of the action with a recurrence of the groin injury which had sidelined him for seven weeks, prior to his return at Bolton.
The biggest worry for Sunderland and Chris Coleman, though, is the fact the games are starting to run out.
There are only a dozen matches remaining for the Black Cats and the two teams immediately above the relegation zone Barnsley and Hull City who both won at the weekend - both have a game in hand of the Wearsiders.
If this performance was a sign Sunderland have finally found some backbone, the next question is whether they have found it in time.