Defoe upstaged by Van Dijk’s

VIRGIL VAN DIJK stole a point for 10-man Southampton to deny Sunderland a vital win.

Jermain Defoe thought he had pinched the Black Cats a priceless victory with his late goal, only for Van Dijk to hit back at the death.

Southampton had skipper Jose Fonte sent off with 10 minutes to play, sparking a frenetic finish, but somehow Ronald Koeman’s men escaped with a share of the spoils.

Fonte was dismissed for bundling over Fabio Borini as the Black Cats forward was through and with a scoring chance.

Second- half sub Defoe seized the extra space to prod home his 14th goal of the season with just five minutes to play.

Defoe’s goal looked like it could ease a turbulent week dominated by scrutiny over the club’s knowledge of former winger Adam Johnson’s crimes.

Instead, Van Dijk grabbed Saints a point, and kept Sunderland right in the relegation dogfight.

The visitors ought to have eased all those concerns with victory here, but failed to capitalise and will doubtless leave the south coast frustrated.

Jack Rodwell wasted the best chance of the half, side- footing Patrick Van Aanholt’s cross well wide on the volley when unmarked on the penalty spot.

Oriol Romeu failed to toe- poke home on the stretch at the other end for Saints, before further decent work from Ryan Bertrand went unrewarded.

The last thing the second- half needed was an early hailstorm, but the elements duly added another impediment to two teams struggling for fluency.

Borini flashed a volley just over a stunned Fraser Forster’s bar, but again neither side could force lasting dominance. Jordy Clasie fired straight