Tessem: That's my debt settled at last

Jo Tessem made up for a costly miss at the Stadium of Light last year with a late goal that gave Southampton a share of the points.

But both sides, the visitors in particular, could argue that they should have had all three points.

In Brett Ormerod and Anders Svensson, Southampton comfortably had the most impressive performers on view. And they had the superior chances to go with their dominance, Kevin Davies twice hitting shots that ended on top of the net, Ormerod doing the same with a chip, and Marian Pahars and Paul Telfer going close before substitute Tessem struck his late equaliser to cancel Jason McAteer's 62ndminute Sunderland opener.

The Norwegian missed a sitter in the final moments in the corresponding clash last season, which cost his side victory. He admitted: 'I didn't think about last year's miss, it has gone - but everyone else seems to remind me of it. I suppose it's a debt settled.'

McAteer, relegated from the Premiership three seasons ago with Blackburn, knows all too well about pressure to clear the drop zone. And, after going so close to a vital victory, he said: 'It's a huge disappointment. We were flying with five minutes to go but it's a very disappointing goal to concede and it's an unhappy dressing room.'

Southampton boss Gordon Strachan hinted Sunderland have been figured out, saying: 'You know what you're getting when you play them. Everyone is ready for Sunderland's commitment and attitude.' His Sunderland counterpart Peter Reid was looking forward to the challenge ahead. He said: 'In a few days' time it's seven years since I came here and I had seven games to go at the bottom of the First Division.

Seven years on and I seem to be in the same position but a league higher. We're in a better position than then and you always take heart from something.'