SUNDERLAND remain in the Premier League’s bottom three after a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at the Stadium of Light.

Eddie Howe’s men took an early lead when Benik Afobe scored in the 13th minute, but Patrick van Aanholt rescued a point for Sunderland when he equalised in first half stoppage time.

Allardyce had stressed the need for his struggling side to keep a clean sheet prior to Bournemouth’s visit, but with 13 on the clock his hopes were dashed for yet another week.

The Cherries outlined their intent as early as the sixth minute when Charlie Daniels’ shot forced Vito Mannone into action. That was closely followed by another chance that saw Afobe just miss Dan Gosling’s dangerous ball across the box.

The warning signs were already there for the Black Cats and Bournemouth took advantage of the hosts’ sluggish start.

The south coast outfit will hope their new £10m striker can steer them away from relegation in their first season in the top flight and he continued his good start with a second goal in as many games.

Mannone got a hand to the 22-year old’s brilliant diving header from a Junior Stanislas’ cross, but it wasn’t enough to keep the ball out and the hosts found themselves behind.

It was almost two-nil minutes later when John O’Shea’s header almost deflected in off Stanislas and Eddie Howe’s side pressed further when Andrew Surman drilled a low shot wide of the far post from a corner.

It wasn’t the type of performance Sunderland need in order to improve their chances of avoiding the drop with the Black Cats constantly giving the ball away in their own half.

Service up to Jermain Defoe was pretty much non-existent with passes going astray but at the other end the Cherries continued to create.

John O’Shea forced a finger-tip save from Artur Boruc to turn his header round onto the post before Fabio Borini followed up with an effort from the edge of the box.

Even after those chances the hosts hardly resembled a team that looked capable of turning the game on its head, but in first half stoppage time they received a life-line from what has become a likely source.

As he did against Tottenham van Aanholt made a marauding run into the box and latched onto Borini’s superb through ball to finish past Boruc from a tight angle.

Allardyce’s men tried to build on their stoppage time equaliser after the break. Defoe received a cross-field pass from Lee Cattermole and sent a curling shot wide before Billy Jones forced another save from Boruc.

With both sides desperate not to lose the second half was a dull affair until substitute Lewis Grabban should have put Bournemouth back in front.

Good work from Gosling and then Stanislaw sent the striker through on goal with only Mannone to beat, but he sent a poor effort wide with eight minutes left.

Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Mannone; Jones, O’Shea, Brown, van Aanholt; Cattermole, M’Vila, Johnson, Lens (Rodwell, 87), Borini (Watmore, 66); Defoe.

Subs (not used): Pickford, N’Doye, Coates, Yedlin, Fletcher.

Bournemouth (4-1-4-1): Boruc; Daniels, Cook, Francis, Smith; Surman, Pugh (Ritchie, 57), Gosling, Arter, Stanislas; Afobe (Grabban, 64).

Subs (not used): Federici, Distin, O’Kane, Iturbe, Murray.