Jay Rodriguez denies Moyes vital first win at Sunderland

A Jay Rodriguez shot five minutes from time saw David Moyes take one point instead of three back to the north-east with his keeper at fault for the equaliser.

With both sides still in search of their first win under new management, the first half was tense with only a few half-chances for both sides. Dusan Tadic fired just over the bar for the home side, and 15 minutes later Lamine Kone came close with a header at the back stick.

The Black Cats were going into the game with two losses and looked to be in for a long season. Ten minutes from time Jermain Defoe swivelled in the penalty area and was brought down from behind by Jose Fonte. The 33-year-old converted the penalty with ease and is now a clear tenth in the all-time Premier LEague goalscoring table.

Five minutes from the end, substitute Rodriguez netted his first goal in over two years with a low strike which slipped under England U21 keeper Jordan Pickford, who should have prevented the effort from squirming under his body.

The 22-year-old had up until then had a confident and impressive game having palmed efforts from Austin and Long wide of his posts and showed dominance from corners.

Sunderland pick up their first point of the season after losing their opening two games to Man City and Middlesbrough. The Saint's remain winless under new boss Claude Puel, who still seeks his first win in the English game.

Black Cats polished at the back. Despite a few half chances from the likes of Long and Austin that were dealt with comfortably by Pickford, Papy Djilobodji and Lamine Kone coped really well with the three strikers that they were faced with. Even though Sunderland lost their first two games, albeit the first a tough trip to the Etihad, the pairing today showed that they can certainly do a job for Moyes.

Jermain Defoe (Sunderland). After leading the line bravely for most of the match, an individual piece of skill inside the opposition penalty area saw Defoe use his low centre of gravity and win the penalty of Fonte. The England international made no mistake in firing his side in front in what looked likely to be the winner but still helped his side achieve a crucial first point of the season.

Southampton: Forster 5, Cedric 6, Fonte 5, van Dijk 5, Targett 5, Romeu 5, Hojbjerg 5, Davis 6, Tadic 5, Austin 5, Redmond 5. Subs: Long 5, Rodriguez 6, Ward-Prowse 4.

Sunderland: Pickford 5, Manquillo 6, Djlobodji 6, Kone 6, van Aanholt 5, Rodwell 5, Pienaar 4, Gooch 5, Borini 5, Januzaj 5; Defoe 6. Subs: Watmore 5, Lens 5, Love 5.

10 - CHANCE! Southampton 0-0 Sunderland Tadic picked the ball up on his favoured left foot just outside the 25-yard box and catches the ball on the half volley. His shot flied only inches over the Sunderland crossbar.

25 - CHANCE! Southampton 0-0 Sunderland The gifted left foot of van Aanholt whipped a ball to the back stick of a crowded box and was met by centre-half Kone, whose looping header drifted wide of Frazer Forster's left post.

80 - PENALTY TO SUNDERLAND! Defoe swivelled on the edge of the six-yard box away from Fonte who tangled with the striker behind, with Defoe subsequently falling to the ground. The referee didn't hesitate in pointing to the penalty spot.

80 - GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Sunderland (Defoe, pen) He stepped up and fired the ball high into the top left hand corner leaving keeper Forster absolutely no chance.

85 - GOAL! Southampton 1-1 Sunderland (Rodgriguez) After having a very solid game in goal, Pickford let Rodriguez's low-drilled shot from just outside the squirm beneath his body, finding it's way agonisingly for the away side into their net.