Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce rues dropped points in Tyne-Wear draw

Sam Allardyce admitted his disappointment after Sunderland conceded late on in their 1-1 draw at Newcastle on Sunday.

Sunderland took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Jermain Defoe, and looked as though they were going to take the three points away from St James' Park until Aleksandar Mitrovic's 83rd-minute header.

It's the second time in as many games that Sunderland have dropped two points late on, after conceding in the 90th minute against Southampton a fortnight ago.

"It's like Southampton all over again for us," Allardyce told Sky Sports. "If we don't start getting these clean sheets it will be a massive problem for us. 

"We're a team that has to score at least two goals to win a game and that's a fact, so sadly we didn't get the second goal.

"We had enough chances to put the game to bed. Second half I don't know why we sat in, it worried me why they did that and let Newcastle come onto them, rather than playing like we did for most of the game.

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"Maybe it was the size of the game and they wanted to sit on what they had. It's another two points dropped sadly.

"It's a lovely ball and a super header [for Mitrovic's goal], what you want is when they come their way for them to head it wide or off target because those little breaks make the difference.

"It's another point, 26, and we need at least four wins in the last eight, then we're getting into must win rather than draw."

While Sunderland goalscorer Defoe also bemoaned the late equaliser for Newcastle.

Everyone's disappointed," Defoe told Sky Sports. "We worked so hard, looked solid and had a good shape throughout the game. 

"They didn't really have any chances and when you concede a late goal it's disappointing. We needed all three points.

"When you're scrapping for results down there you don't get the luck sometimes, but you can't fault the effort from the lads. 

"We'll keep it going now we've got some massive games coming up, and if we keep putting in performances like that we'll be fine."