Chris Coleman admits Sunderland's survival has become much tougher

With one minute of last night’s game at the Stadium of Light remaining, George Honeyman’s 63rd-minute opener looked like hauling Sunderland to within four points of safety.

However, the Black Cats failed to deal with James Maddison’s free-kick, and an unmarked Ivan Pinto was left with the simple task of slotting home from close range.

With Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers both losing, Sunderland have closed the gap slightly to their rivals. However, they remain six points adrift of 21st position with four games remaining, and face a seemingly impossible task as they look to survive.

“We need four wins now don’t we,” admitted Coleman. “We could have put pressure on Reading tonight, before we go there on Saturday. If we had then beaten them, the gap (to Reading) would have been three points and the pressure would have been on them. With us dropping two points, that could make a difference to them.

“There are 12 points available, and the gap has lessened a little bit, but we should be sitting here now saying, ‘Right, it’s game on now on Saturday’. But, unfortunately, we have just given ourselves a little bit more to do.

“The two points we have given up is a big, big blow, especially with the other results having gone for us.”

Coleman was especially disappointed at the manner of Sunderland’s last-gasp concession, with Grant Hanley winning a simple knock-down and Pinto finding himself with the freedom of the penalty area as he slotted home.

All too often this season, Sunderland’s players have failed to deal with routine balls into the box, and they have repeatedly conceded in the dying seconds of either the first or second half of matches.

That smacks of a lack of concentration, with Coleman admitting he was furious at the lack of application that resulted in his side passing up two priceless points.

“It is bitterly disappointing,” he said. “We were within five minutes of taking all three points, but we end up with one.

“The nature of the goal is disappointing too, it’s naivety. It is very difficult to say to the players, ‘We need more again’ because it was a performance with lots of shots and attempts, the intent and mentality was there.

"We were a little bit fatigued I think, but that is to be expected with two games in four or five days. It could have gone either way to be fair, but at 1-0 up, you have to see that through. You have to see it out.

“It’s just five minutes, but if I’m honest, we’ve seen it before. That last five minutes of the game. Normally, it is before half-time and there’s a set-play, we don't deal with it, and we’re 1-0 down. We are not streetwise enough, or savvy enough to deal with that.”

It didn’t help that John O’Shea was off the field when Sunderland conceded the late equaliser, with the Sunderland skipper having picked up an injury that forced him off on the 70-minute mark.

He is extremely unlikely to be involved at Reading at the weekend, meaning Jake Clarke-Salter will have to play alongside Lamine Kone unless Marc Wilson is fit.

Adam Matthews is also a major doubt for the trip to Madejski Stadium as he was unable to take part in the second half of last night’s game after suffering suspected concussion.

“Adam took a knock halfway through the first half and came off at half-time with blurred vision,” said Coleman. “John’s problem was his back and his groin all down his right side. I think probably both players will be a no for the weekend.

“John certainly will be unless he has an incredible recovery, but he was struggling a bit. It’s a tough one if Adam has concussion, there are levels of it. We will know more on Wednesday, with John it is his groin and his back. After 70 minutes there was no more (from him), we were forced into a change.”