Sunderland felt hard-done-by as a controversial goal cost them a point against automatic promotion candidates Sheffield United. The Black Cats had gone in front on the half-hour as midfielder Edouard Michut scored his first goal for the club since joining last summer on loan from Paris St Germain.
But in first-half injury time, James McAtee - who is on loan with the Blades from Manchester City - levelled for the visitors. The controversy came on the hour as Tommy Doyle's free-kick found the net, with Sander Berge - who was one of three players standing beyond the last defender - attempting to get a toe to the ball which meant he was offside, but the flag did not go up against him and the goal stood.
It was a poor decision by the linesman, and a costly one from Sunderland's point of view. The Black Cats slip to 12th in the table, and are now eight points shy of the play-off places.
READ MORE: Offside goal consigns Sunderland to defeat against promotion-chasing Sheffield United
Here's how our Sunderland AFC writer James Hunter rated the players.
Anthony Patterson 7
Made excellent saves from Jebbison in the first half and N'Diaye in the second
Trai Hume 7
Another solid game at right-back, he looks stronger with every match
Dan Ballard 7
Composure beyond his years at the heart of defence
Danny Batth 7
Did a good job of marshalling the back line
Luke O'Nien 7
Produced some crucial clearances, but went off in the dying minutes after taking a knock
Edouard Michut 7
Capped a good all-round performance with his first goal for the club
Dan Neil 6
Did OK in the middle alongside Michut
Patrick Roberts 7
A threat every time he got on the ball, and only the woodwork denied him an equaliser
Abdoullah Ba 7
His intelligent pass provided the assist for Michut
Jack Clarke 7
Caused problems whenever he ran at defenders down the left
Joe Gelhardt 6
No shortage of effort, but struggled to make much of an impact
Subs
Alex Pritchard 6
For Gelhardt 72mins. Couldn't help Sunderland get back into the game
Lynden Gooch 6
For Michut 72mins. Did OK
Isaac Lihadji 6
For Ba 72mins. A few neat touches
Pierre Ekwah N/A
For O'Nien 72mins.
Not used: Bass, Bennette, Anderson
READ NEXT
Mowbray explains why he's playing down Sunderland's play-off challenge
- Tony Mowbray backs campaign to raise funds for ex-Sunderland star John MacPhail
- Sunderland's Dennis Cirkin to see specialist ahead of resuming full training
- Trai Hume reflects on Sunderland's steely performance
- Joe Gelhardt called upon to adapt to teammates amid Sunderland struggles
