CHRIS COLEMAN hopes last weekend’s late, late show against Middlesbrough will be a turning point for his Sunderland side.

Bottom of the Championship, Coleman is still seeking a consistent run of positive results from his players.

The Black Cats go to Millwall tomorrow five points from safety.

But Coleman now needs his players to build on the last-gasp 3-3 draw with Boro and said: “Was last week a turning point? If we win at Millwall then it is. The last two performances, we can’t have too many complaints with the players.

“All games at this stage of the season are important for one way or another so anything can happen.

“In terms of committed to the game, for 90 minutes, then I’m much happier with what I saw and what I got back. It wasn’t a win, but it was a positive.’’

Sunderland had Jake-Clarke Salter sent-off before Boro were reduced to ten men as Adama Traore was red-carded and Coleman felt the game opened up on the back of the red cards.

He said: “When Jake is off, we reshuffle and the first-half they didn’t trouble us too much and they are a strong team. We change formation at ten men and they had one off to, but with 11 men we didn’t have too many difficulties.

“It looked like the team in possession was going to create something because of the open spaces. It was an open game, plenty of fire.

“My only criticism was ten minutes after the restart when we sit deep and try to hang on. Then we go 2-1 down and went back at them and scored. We should have done it after the break instead.

“But overall last two games have been better.’’