Point proved in derby day draw

FINE margins go a long way in football and Sunderland can reflect on moments that went for, and against, them in the 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

Let’s face it, they could have gone a goal down early on when Boro’s Finn Azaz lifted over an open goal from just inside the 18-yard box.

Then, they undoubtedly should have taken the lead with one of the chances they created.

Not least in the 38th minute when Abdoullah Ba shot weakly from six yards to allow Rav ven den Berg to clear off the line when he had no right to.

It goes without saying that Jack Clarke had done all the hard work in setting up the gift after receiving from Jobe Bellingham. The mercurial winger was once again a darting presence and if only there was someone who could get on the end of the many moments he created, especially late on in the game.

Ba was a real thorn in Boro’s side down Sunderland’s right and had earlier shot into the side-netting when there was nobody in the box for him to square to.

But he showed his immaturity too when, after being fouled by Lukas Engel, he turned around and waved an imaginary card and promptly got booked himself for doing so.

Had he concentrated more on his finishing than trying to do the referee’s job for him, Sunderland could have possibly led at half-time and the game would have been a different one.

Sunderland’s pressing in the opening few minutes was effective as they forced Middlesbrough to give the ball away.

Manager Michael Beale wanted his side to get on the front foot and they did that.

There were moments of alarm though and Leo Hjelde and Bellingham were both guilty of getting caught in possession in midfield, which gave Middlesbrough the tools to counter.

Trai Hume put in one superb covering tackle, while Luke O’nien also produced important moments at the back. His surging run forward leaving players in his wake from the back to set up an attack was also eyecatching.

Hume put in two superb crosses going forward too, when Sunderland’s lack of a focal point up front became obvious.

Middlesbrough’s goal was scored too easily from a Sunderland point of view with nobody picking up a disguised short free-kick and, when the ball was cracked into the penalty area, nobody was marking Marcus Forss as he was allowed to swivel and strike the ball past Anthony Patterson.

Boro were sharper, crisper in their passing, and playing the game with more urgency at that point and Patterson was fortunate he didn’t concede a calamitous second goal when O’nien played the ball back to him and he tried to dribble past two Boro players closing him down.

Nazariy Rusyn and Patrick Roberts were introduced and a big moment came in the 71st minute as Forss went down injured. The delay allowed Sunderland to go across to receive instructions from Beale and regroup.

Sunderland’s equaliser came out of the blue, and again, Clarke was the instigator. What was pleasing was the manner of the counterattack after it came from a Boro cross that went behind their forwards. Clarke picked it up and played a great one-two with Dan Neil.

Bellingham deserves credit for making a decoy run and Clarke was tempted to play him in, only to delay by a fraction of a second and feed

Rusyn instead. The shot was speculative at best, but although Tom Glover made a hash of it, credit to Rusyn for having a go.

Clarke’s trickery almost set up a winner but a point was a good one in the circumstances.

It’s true that Boro bossed the second half and were in cruise control right up until the moment Glover made a hash of Rusyn’s shot.

But credit to Sunderland for battling back and giving their fans something to cheer.

Some fans maintain that Sunderland under Tony Mowbray would have been praised for that result, and it is only right that Beale should be applauded on this occasion. A small step, but that’s real progress for the new manager.

Abdoullah Ba takes a shot at goal. He was a thorn in Boro’s side but showed his immaturity, too