Sunderland 1 Manchester City 1
Stu Vose

Sunderland were held to a draw despite an excellent home performance as Manchester City substitute Adam Johnson struck an injury-time leveller for the visitors.

The Black Cats were by far the better side in the first period and struck an early goal when Kenwyne Jones headed in Steed Malbranque's cross.

But City grew stronger after the break and only five magnificent saves from home keeper Craig Gordon prevented them from equalising before Johnson curled home in the dying minutes.

Featuring David Meyler and Kieran Richardson in a reshaped midfield in the absence of Lorik Cana and the injured Lee Cattermole, the hosts battled brilliantly and were obviously spurred on by a firecracker atmosphere inside the Stadium of Light.

John Mensah and Michael Turner nullified much of City's expensive attacking threat, with Ghanaian Mensah producing a super man-marking job on City dangerman Carlos Tevez.

Fresh from the resounding win over Bolton, Steve Bruce's side started brightly in front of a noisy home support.

Jones tested Shay Given with a low shot early on, but the former Newcastle keeper could do nothing about the Trinidadian's next effort as he put Sunderland in front after just nine minutes.

Malbranque - impressive against Bolton - was again the architect, cutting inside his marker on the left and curling in an irresistible cross for Jones, who looped a delightful header over Given and into the back of the net.

Jones' goal was his eighth of the season, and the big striker continued to provide a menacing presence up front for Sunderland, heading another Malbranque cross over from a similar position after David Meyler had fired low at Given.

Then it was Jones who threatened again, thundering towards goal to meet Bent's flick-on but blasting wide. Fraizer Campbell also fired off-target having teased Wayne Bridge - substituted just after the half-hour - with some quick feet on the right-hand edge of the box.

For all their industry and encouraging play, Sunderland were almost undone as they suffered an almighty scare just after the half-hour. A ball into the box wasn't cleared and eventually found its way to the feet of Gareth Barry, who will have been disappointed to curl his shot beyond Craig Gordon's left-hand post from the edge of the area.

Sunderland were dealt a blow at half time as Jones - who carried a knock for much ot the first period - was substituted, with Jordan Henderson replacing him for his first match action since being injured against Wigan.

As expected, City upped the ante after the restart and Sunderland had reason to be grateful to keeper Gordon - largely redundant in the first half - for three wonderful saves in as many minutes with the second period just five minutes old.

First the Scotland international did well to block smartly down low after sub Roque Santa Cruz sneaked round the back of the Sunderland defence.

He repeated the feat with a stretching save from Shaun Wright-Phillips on the near post before reacting well to turn Craig Bellamy's tricky cross-shot behind for a corner just as if the ball looked like it might sneak inside the near post.

Joleon Lescott had to be alert to head away Henderson's free kick inside his own six-yard box as Sunderland enjoyed a good spell, but back came City as Gordon came up trumps once more.

Bellamy broke clear down the right and slid a dangerous ball across the box, Tevez met it first time but Gordon spread himself and somehow managed to block with his legs at point-blank range. Patrick Vieira couldn't make the rebound as Sunderland's massed ranks hacked clear.

With time running out, City upped the ante with both Tevez and then NIgel De Jong blazing high and wide from decent positions.

But still Sunderland were fortunate to have Gordon riding to the rescue.  The Scot again spread himself brilliantly to save with his feet from Bellamy after the City man streaked away from Alan Hutton with ten minutes remaining.

He repeated the trick in the final minute of normal time, somehow getting on a block on a Bellamy shot which flashed through a crowd and took a wicked deflection off Hutton.

But the brave Scot was finally beaten in an injury time as City grabbed a point they probably deserved. Johnson - a boyhood Sunderland fan - was given time to compose himself on the edge of the box and the substitute curled an exquisite shot into the top corner.

Sunderland, though, can take heart from an excellent performance as they extended their recent sequence to just one defeat in seven games.

SAFC: Gordon, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Turner (C), Mensah, Malbranque (Zenden, 76), Campbell (Bardsley, 84), Meyler, Richardson, Bent, Jones (Henderson, 46).

Subs Not Used: Carson, McCartney, Da Silva, Kilgallon.

Booked: Meyler (57), Gordon (90).

Sent Off: None.

Manchester City: Given (C), Richards (Vieira, 64), Zabaleta, Lescott, Bridge (Santa Cruz, 33), Wright-Phillips (A Johnson, 72), Barry, Tevez, Bellamy, De Jong, Kompany.

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Toure, Sylvinho, Ireland.

Booked: Tevez (11), Richards (34), Wright-Phillips (40), Barry (57).

Sent Off: None,