Bournemouth 1-1 Sunderland: Black Cats end run of defeats in resilient display

Sunderland gained an away point in the Premier League against an in-form Bournemouth side at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

Eliezer Mayenda’s early goal was levelled by a second-half Evanilson header to ensure the points were shared on the South Coast.

Régis Le Bris’ side went into the game following a hat-trick of defeats and he was dealt a huge blow with four key players missing the game through injury.

Yet, Sunderland began the game very strongly as they look to put their poor form right and had an early shot at goal from Noah Sadiki, whose his long-range effort was parried away by Djordje Petrovic.

However, Sunderland won the ball back immediately and Xhaka played an insightful ball into Enzo Le Fee inside the box and he was bundled over by Alex Jimenez, but referee, Jarred Gillett, didn’t award the penalty.

With just under 2o minutes played, Sunderland took a deserved lead.

Dan Ballard’s defence-splitting ball found Habib Diarra in the box, whose his shot across the keeper was parried straight to Mayenda and he tapped the ball into the empty net.

Following the goal, Bournemouth grew into the game and were almost level within minutes, when Jimenez’s ball to the far post was tapped wide by Lutsharel Geertruida, before David Brooks could tap it home.

The Cherries again came close just before the half hour mark when Marcus Tavenier’s powerful long-range strike was spilled by Robin Roefs straight to Alex Scott, however the keeper was up quickly to smother his effort.

RLB’s side looked to double their lead early into the second half when Le Fee played Diarra through on goal, but his shot was well-saved by Petrovic and the rebound hit Diarra and went out for a goal kick.

The Black Cats again were unlucky with another refereeing decision when Tyler Adams’ tackle on Xhaka was checked by VAR, but Gillet only booked Adams for what VAR deemed a reckless tackle.

With half an hour still to play, the Cherries got their leveller.

Tavenier’s whipped cross beat Roefs in goal and fell to Evanilson on the far post, who headered it home from a tight angle.

Bournemouth pushed for a winner late on and almost got it when Rayan’s long-range strike was deflected by Omar Alderete, which wrong-footed the keeper however it went narrowly wide.

Sunderland next play away to Leeds United on Wednesday third of March at 19:30.