AT LEAST Dario Gradi was more diplomatic in his assessment of Sunderland than the cruel Crewe choristers.

"Premiership? You're having a laugh'' was the incessant chant from the visiting fans' enclosure at the Stadium of Light as the Railwaymen belied their lowly status to pinch the point that secured First Division survival and left the Black Cats needing one more to make the play-offs.

Gradi, whose Gresty Road academy has spawned the likes of David Platt, Danny Murphy and Craig Hignett - the former Middlesbrough man has returned and featured on Saturday - knows how to pick a player after nearly 21 years as Crewe boss.

He also had a short spell in charge of Crystal Palace and has watched with interest as Iain Dowie has steered his old club into the promotion shake-up after an indifferent start to the season under Steve Kember.

Sunderland are now on collision course with Palace, who beat them 3-0 at Selhurst Park 12 days ago, for a potential play-off semi-final showdown.

And, more ominously, Gradi has singled out Palace striker Andy Johnson as the type of player Sunderland lack.

The Black Cats, of course, have already made Johnson's acquaintance; he scored in Palace's 2-1 defeat on Wearside in September and converted the penalty opener in the return after goalkeeper Mart Poom had been sent off for bringing him down.

Gradi said: "Andy Johnson gives them something you haven't got here at Sunderland - he's a little darter who gets in behind defences.

"That's the only thing missing from Sunderland. Johnson was a thorn in the flesh when we played Palace.

"But the play-offs are a lottery and anyone can win them. They are all going to be half-decent sides, but much of a muchness.''

The impetus, though, is no longer with Sunderland. They have now gone five games without a win and scored only once in the process - Jeff Whitley's strike was the Black Cats' first goal in six hours and 25 minutes.

But Gradi believes Mick McCarthy's side won't suffer an adverse reaction to Saturday's disappointment, which saw Crewe level in the 75th minute with a breakaway goal by Dean Ashton.

It could have been worse, too, when Ashton's strike partner Steve Jones escaped four minutes from time to thump a shot against the base of a post.

Gradi, however, said: "First, there's innate confidence. I don't think Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry or David Beckham lose self-belief if they lose six games.

"Then, there's the confidence that comes from winning. We went up last year because we were used to winning. As soon as we started losing this season, we lost confidence.

"It depends on your players, but I wouldn't have thought Sunderland would lose confidence over this result.''

McCarthy insists his side's heavy schedule of games - they lost to Millwall in an FA Cup semi-final - has been a factor in their sudden deterioration in form. But he complained they have spurned too many chances to kill teams off.

It was a Jekyll and Hyde performance from Sunderland, who should have been cruising against Crewe by half-time.

But, apart from the opportunities that went to waste, they were frustrated by inspired goalkeeping from Ben Williams.

After Kevin Kyle had shot well over from a good position in the first minute, Williams did well to palm out Jason McAteer's header, which was bound for the top corner.

Williams later turned Marcus Stewart's stinging shot around the post after the Sunderland man had swivelled sweetly to create the opening.

The drought ended in the 25th minute when midfielder Whitley, whose only other goal for the club was a lucky ricochet in the 2-0 home win over West Ham in March, brought the ball down from Stewart's centre to fire into the roof of the net from no more than eight yards.

But Williams produced the save of the match on the half hour when he arched his back to somehow tip Kyle's nicely-judged lob over the bar.

Kyle headed just wide on the stroke of half-time and lifted another chance over in the 66th minute after a strangely subdued opening to the second period.

Sunderland allowed Crewe back into the game and it was no surprise when Ashton, who two minutes earlier had glanced narrowly wide from Kenny Lunt's corner, equalised.

Dave Brammer's through ball sprang Sunderland's hitherto effective offside trap and Ashton beat Poom with a diagonal finish.

One disgruntled Sunderland fan ventured down to the dug-out to vent his spleen at McCarthy and received short shrift from the Black Cats' boss.

But, with championship-chasing Norwich arriving tomorrow night for the penultimate game of the League season, McCarthy can sense the anxiety around Wearside. "I'd take the point and just being there,'' he said, "but we have to try to win the games rather than just nick a point.''

Result: Sunderland 1 Crewe Alexander 1.

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