New boss Alex Neil put an end to Sunderland's losing streak - but the Black Cats dropped two more crucial points against relegation-threatened opposition as they fought out a draw at AFC Wimbledon.
The Black Cats fell behind inside 20 minutes to a controversial penalty, awarded for a highly questionable handball against Callum Doyle, with Luke McCormick scoring from the spot.
But Alex Pritchard levelled with a wonderful free-kick - his second in the space of five days - before half-time.
Wimbledon finished with ten men when McCormick was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 90 minute.
Sunderland had lost three games in a row prior to their visit to Plough Lane and the draw put an end to that run.
However it was another two points dropped against lowly opposition as far as the promotion race is concerned, and while Sunderland stay fourth the automatic places are becoming ever-more distant.
Neil made three changes to the side that lost at Cheltenham in midweek, with Bailey Wright returning from a calf injury, while Carl Winchester and Dan Neil also returned to the starting XI.
They replaced Danny Batth, who was absent from the squad, Leon Dajaku and Corry Evans, with the latter pair dropping to the bench.
AFC Wimbledon boss Mark Robinson made five changes, in his case to the side that lost at home to leaders Rotherham United on Tuesday.
McCormick, Will Nightingale, Paul Osew, Lee Brown, and Ethan Chislett came into the side, with Daniel Csoka, Cheye Alexander, Nesta Guinness-Walker, Anthony Hartigan, and Paul Kalambayi, making way.
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Sunderland were subdued in the first half, with Wimbledon making all the running and only a series of good saves from Anthony Patterson prevented the Dons going in ahead at half-time.
Inside the first five minutes, Patterson had to be quick off his line to clear an underhit backpass from Wright before Sam Cosgrove could reach the ball, and on the quarter-hour Chislett sent a shot narrowly wide from outside the box.
Wimbledon took the lead on 20 minutes as a result of a harsh penalty decision by referee Sam Mather.
Doyle was penalised for a handball when a cross struck him at very close range, and McCormick stepped up to convert.
Minutes later,. Patterson made a fine save to prevent Cosgrove doubling the Dons' lead after Sunderland failed to deal convincingly with a corner, and Ben Heneghan sent his follow-up shot over the bar.
And on the half-hour Patterson was again in the right place at the right time, this time to turn a shot from McCormick round the post.
But Sunderland levelled on 35 minutes, with what was their only effort on goal of the half.
Pritchard was brought down by Jack Rudoni just outside the D in a central position, and the midfielder took the set-piece himself, curling it round the wall and beyond goalkeeper Nik Tzanev into the right side of the net - almost a carbon copy of his free-kick goal at Cheltenham on Tuesday.
Wimbledon saw a penalty appeal waved away when Rudoni went down under a challenge from Jack Clarke.
And in injury time at the end of the first period Patterson made another good save, clawing Brown's long-range free-kick round the post.
In the second half, Dennis Cirkin semmt a shot over the bar from the edge of the box, and soon afterwards Pritchard threaded the ball through for Ross Stewart but his first touch was poor and that allowed Osew to tackle him and put the ball out for a corner before the Sunderland man could get his shot away.
But the second period soon degenerated into a scrappy affair, puntuated by frequent stoppages and multiple bookings.
Wimbledon had a couple of half-chances, but nothing that Patterson could not deal with.
And at the other end, Matete met a cross at full stretch but could only send his effort over the bar, while Wright headed over the top from a corner.
The red card came in the last minute of normal time, when McCormick was shown a second yellow card followed by a red after a foul on Pritchard.
How they lined up
AFC Wimbledon: Tzanev, Osew, Heneghan, Nightingale, Brown, McCormick, Marsh, Rudoni, Chislett (Hartigan 76), Cosgrove (Cosgrave 79), Assal. Subs not used: Broome, Alexander, Kalambayi, Tomas, Mebude
Booked: Heneghan, McCormick, Osew, Chislett, Assal
Sent off: McCormick
Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Wright, Doyle, Cirkin, Winchester (Evans 62), Clarke (Defoe 62), Matete, Neil, Pritchard, Stewart (Roberts 73). Subs not used: Carney, Dajaku, Embleton, Xhemajli
Booked: Winchester, Clarke, Matete, Evans, Wright, Defoe, Neil
Referee: Simon Mather (Manchester)
Attendance: 8,381
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