Sam Allardyce pleased Sunderland held their nerve to rescue point against AFC Bournemouth

Sam Allardyce was pleased his Sunderland side didn't collapse after going behind early to AFC Bournemouth.
Lee Cattermole in action for Sunderland against AFC BournemouthLee Cattermole in action for Sunderland against AFC Bournemouth
Lee Cattermole in action for Sunderland against AFC Bournemouth

The Cherries took the lead at the Stadium of Light 13 minutes in through Benik Afobe's close-range header after the £10million frontman got in front of John O'Shea.

Vito Mannone, prefered ahead of Jordan Pickford, was also guilty of failing to get a strong hand on the ball to prevent the opener.

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Mannone then made a couple of smart stops to keep the Black Cats in the game, as Bournemouth pressed for a second.

And Allardyce was pleased to see his side hit back through Patrick van Aanholt's strike just before half-time.

Allardyce said: "We played very poorly for 25 minutes after they scored and Vito kept us in the game at that stage.

"The good thing from my point of view is I have seen us go under so many times since I have been here, but we stayed in the game.

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"That allowed us to play our way back into the game, particularly when we made a little switch with Adam Johnson going in the middle.

"The pass to Patrick [van Aanholt] for the goal, it was a fantastic time to score and it lifted us.

"Second half was anybody's. It was end to end, either side could have won the game.

"We thought we had when Billy Jones headed the ball, that was a good save.

"And it wasn't to be for the three points.

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"It is our first point gained from going behind, we haven't lost.

"Disappointed not to have won but we have gained two wins a draw and a loss in the last four games.

"It is a reasonable account of points in that small period of time and we have to try and continue from here to pick more points up."