Southampton vs Sunderland match report: Virgil van Dijk's late strike denies Black Cats valuable win

Southampton 1 Sunderland 1

Southampton centre-back Virgil Van Dijk celebrates his late equaliser (Getty)

Sunderland lost this fixture 8-0 last season, so a point should have been cause for celebration, but the knowledge that it was so close to being a victory will dampen the spirits on another long journey back to Wearside.

Substitute Jermain Defoe had given the visitors the lead five minutes from time but Southampton, down to 10 men after the sending-off of Jose Fonte for denying Fabio Borini a clear goals-scoring chance, levelled in the third minute of time added on through Virgil van Dijk.

Sam Allardyce’s men are now one point rather than three clear of the relegation zone ahead of their next match, against Newcastle at St James’ Park in a fortnight. “We’ve thrown an opportunity away in just a few seconds by allowing an opponent to turn in the box,” said the Sunderland manager. “I’m very satisfied with performances but we’re not producing the wins we need to get out of trouble. It should have happened today but we’ve put more pressure on ourselves.”

Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe celebrates his opening goal (Getty)

With Southampton hampered by injuries to Shane Long and Charlie Austin, Vito Mannone was called on to make only routine saves, and Sunderland went closer when Fraser Forster could only tip Wahbi Khazri’s free-kick on to a post. After Fonte was sent off, the advantage was Sunderland’s, and Defoe converted Lamine Koné’s pass from eight yards. But Dusan Tadic was allowed to turn and cross for Van Dijk to lash home first time.

Southampton: (4-2-3-1) Forster; Martina, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Clasie (Juanmi, 65), Romeu; Davis (Ward-Prowse, 65), Mané (Yoshida, 83), Tadic; Pelle.

Sunderland: (4-1-4-1) Mannone; Yedlin, Koné, Kaboul, Van Aanholt; Kirchhoff (O’Shea, 90); Borini, Rodwell, M’Vila, Khazri (Larsson, 76); N’Doye (Defoe, 59).

Referee: Neil Swarbrick.

Man of the match: Borini (Sunderland)

Match rating: 5/10