Joe Nicholson reacts after Sunderland's 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium
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00:00 Outside the Riverside Stadium where Sunderland have come from a goal down to earn a point against Middlesbrough.
00:08 Nazari Rousin scoring an equaliser for the Black Cats six minutes from time.
00:13 And it was a game where quite even in the first half, both sides playing some decent stuff through midfield,
00:18 but just really lacking that finishing touch, that cutting edge in the final third.
00:22 We've said that quite a few times about Sunderland this season.
00:25 They started today with Mason Burstow up front after the striker scored his first Sunderland goal in the win against Stoke last weekend,
00:32 but struggled to make an impact today.
00:34 And Middlesbrough were also playing without a recognised strike, so both sides just lacking that cutting edge in the final third in the first half.
00:40 Although there were some very good opportunities, one for Sunderland when Abdullah Barr had a great chance five minutes before half-time,
00:47 when he was set up by Jack Clarke, but saw his effort blocked on the line by Ralf van den Berg.
00:52 Middlesbrough had a decent chance as well when Sam Greenwood went through on goal.
00:56 Anthony Patterson saved the effort and then Finn Azaz blazed his shot over the crossbar.
01:00 But Sunderland started slowly at the start of the second half.
01:03 Black Cats boss Michael Beale admitted that in his post-match press conference that they didn't start well enough at the start of that second half.
01:09 And then Middlesbrough opened the scoring when they played a short free kick and the ball dropped to Marcus Forse inside the box.
01:15 And he finished quite emphatically, to be honest.
01:18 There were some complaints about the free kick, how it was awarded. It seemed like Dan Neal and Sam Greenwood were both pulling at each other's shirts.
01:25 But the free kick went Middlesbrough's way and they opened the scoring. Sunderland did still have chances to prevent the goal,
01:30 but Middlesbrough went ahead then around the hour mark.
01:33 And after that, Middlesbrough looked like they were going to be able to see the game out, but Sunderland managed to nick a goal right near the end.
01:39 That shot from Roosin, it was a big mistake really from Middlesbrough goalkeeper Tom Glover.
01:44 Probably should have saved that effort, but I don't think anyone really expected Roosin to take the shot on.
01:48 He did, it kind of bounced in front of Glover and then went in to make it 1-1.
01:52 If anyone was going to win at the end, it was probably going to be Sunderland.
01:55 Jack Clark kind of came alive. He hadn't really been as influential as he usually has been on the left,
02:00 but he really came alive at the end and almost created a winner for Sunderland.
02:04 It was the visitors who finished the game the stronger.
02:07 So 1-1, it's finished, a decent point on the road for Sunderland backing up that win against Stoke last weekend.
02:14 Their next game, they're back at the Stadium of Light next weekend when they will host Plymouth Argyle.