SUNDERLAND snatched a last gasp draw at home to Watford thanks to Dennis Cirkin's equaliser.

Cirkin made amends for the Black Cats after conceding the first half penalty that allowed Tom Dele-Bashiru to cancel out Luke O'Nien's opener.

Imran Louza then hit a stunner less than 60 seconds after the restart and Sunderland looked set for defeat until Cirkin's 89th minute leveller.

FRUSTRATION DESPITE THE LATE SHOW

A point when Sunderland looked destined for defeat. But they should have won it in stoppage time. And probably would have won it had they come to life and started playing before the last minute.

For long stages on Saturday, Sunderland were sluggish, sloppy and could have had no complaints had their unbeaten record been brought to an end by Watford.

The Hornets headed for Wearside on the back of three straight defeats and just one win in eight, and they'd only been victorious on three occasions this season. But they battled back from behind to lead 2-1 and looked comfortable throughout the second half until Cirkin's last minute equaliser. Sunderland had the chances to turn one point into three in stoppage time but Wilson Isidor and Milan Aleksic were both denied by Watford debutant keeper Egil Selvik.

A 2-2 draw was snatched rather than lost as was the case against Plymouth at home last time out. But the outcome, two points from six, is not enough for a side chasing automatic promotion. Sunderland can't afford another slip-up when Luton visit on Wednesday night.

THE GOOD AND THE BAD OF DENNIS CIRKIN

It was a needless tackle from  Cirkin that allowed Watford a route back into the game and proved decisive. For all Sunderland hadn’t been at their best in the first half, they led thanks to O'Nien's close range header and Watford had struggled to turn their tidy play into clear cut chances before the move that led to the leveller.

After Anthony Patterson had initially made a superb save to keep out Mamadou Doumbia’s header, the striker was running away from goal as he tried to pursue the loose ball but Cirkin inexplicably lunged in. And to add to the bewilderment of the tackle, the left-back had been booked 10 minutes or so earlier.

The penalty and equaliser sent Watford into half-time with belief and was a platform for Louza's stunner immediately after the restart.

With Cirkin on a yellow, it was slightly surprising Regis Le Bris didn't withdraw the full-back in the second half when he turned to his bench. It was a good job he left him on, for it was Cirkin who was in the right place at the right time to bundle home the equaliser.

JOBE BELLINGHAM ABSENCE

Despite his absence, it quickly became apparent that Jobe Bellingham’s injury is nothing to worry about.

Shortly after the team news – which revealed one change and Salis Abdul Samed coming in for Bellingham – the Black Cats eased any understandable fears.

“It's just a small injury with his ankle, but not serious,” said boss Le Bris.

“He could have played, but it was better to avoid this game and prepare the next one, and to be fresh.”

It was an understandable approach from Sunderland, who couldn’t risk Bellingham aggravating the issue and facing a longer spell on the sidelines.

But the teenager was missed in midfield, where the Black Cats lacked their usual energy and purpose. The balance between Samed and Dan Neil didn’t look right and Sunderland missed Bellingham's vision and drive.

LE FEE’S QUALITY

He was the best player on the pitch at Middlesbrough on Monday night and Enzo Le Fee was again Sunderland’s stand-out star.

It was the Frenchman’s fast feet that set up an early chance for Chris Rigg and he delivered the corner that led to the opener soon after.

With style comes strength. At 1-0, Le Fee snapped into a tackle near Watford’s corner flag, won the ball, used his body as a shield and then teed up Rigg, who saw his shot deflected wide.

How fitting that it was Le Fee's corner that led to the late equaliser.