THAT'S more like it. All right, so Howard Wilkinson is still searching for his first victory as Sunderland manager.

But the indomitable spirit that has characterised Sunderland displays for so many years, and only ebbed away during the dying embers of Peter Reid's reign, oozed out of every pore at The Valley yesterday.

Six days after Bolton Wanderers scored a late equaliser last Monday, so Charlton were trailing for most of the second-half before they hauled themselves level.

Tore Andre Flo's second goal for the club, and first under Wilkinson, was worthy of winning any match.

But despite the best efforts of Sunderland's defence, Gary Rowett stabbed home from close range after a rare lapse in the Black Cats rearguard to deny them victory.

There were 13 minutes remaining when Rowett turned the ball into an empty net, and after that both sides had chances to snatch victory.

But Sunderland had to be content with taking a point with them up the A1 last night, and they remain in the relegation zone.

Yet finally, after the dark days of September and October, the threat of Nationwide League football next season has receded - albeit slightly.

As Reid looked on from the warmth of the Sky TV studio at The Valley, Sunderland produced the performance that was their erstwhile manager's trademark when he was in charge on Wearside.

There was little creativity - no Don Hutchison to orchestrate the play, or Julio Arca to produce a flash of unexpected skill - but it was Sunderland at their most fiesty.

Whenever a Charlton player shaped to shoot, invariably two defenders tried to block his effort.

And more often than not, Jurgen Macho was untroubled.

Certainly, Stephen Wright made a goal-saving intervention after 31 minutes when he deflected Claus Jensen's shot to safety with Macho beaten.

That opportunity came after John Robinson and Jason Euell had linked up down the Sunderland left to prise open the visitors' stubborn defence.

It was a rare opening for Charlton, who were outfought for much of the game but lifted themselves to produce a rousing finale.

Even Wilkinson would not argue that it was the prettiest of displays from his side, but who cares?

Not the Sunderland manager, that's for sure, and neither did the large Black Cats contingent that sold out their allocation for The Valley - unlike Middlesbrough for their game here a fortnight ago.

Sunderland are not going to stay up on the back of their away form.

But as long as they do not lose at places like Charlton and Bolton Wanderers, and pick up their fair share of home wins, they will be safe.

Until Charlton equalised, Sunderland looked fairly comfortable, but an apparent lack of communication in their defence cost them dear.

As Chris Powell hoisted a long ball towards the Sunderland penalty area, their defenders pushed forward, seemingly trying to catch a Charlton player offside.

But Jody Craddock stayed back, and as Kevin Lisbie clipped the ball across the face of goal Rowett and Robinson were waiting to score.

The defender applied the finishing touch, and Sunderland's hard work in protecting their lead had been undone by one miscalculation.

But that must not detract from a display that gave Wearsiders plenty of reasons to be cheerful about their side's future.

Flo's goal came about after Sunderland had won the ball deep in enemy territory, with Paul Thirlwell coming to the fore.

He robbed Robbie Mustoe of possession 15 yards from the goal-line, and from his pass Gavin McCann's deflected shot fell at the feet of Kevin Phillips.

He held off the challenge of Mark Fish to provide Flo with a shooting opportunity, and he drilled a low shot beyond Dean Kiely and into the far corner.

The goal imbued Sunderland with extra confidence and, crucially, at the same time added to the nerves that were already prevalent among the Charlton players and fans.

Phillips saw a header deflected into Kiely's hands, and the hosts were growing increasingly agitated as Sunderland kept them at bay with ease.

Macho came to his side's rescue nine seconds into the second-half when he beat away Jensen's shot after the Black Cats defence had been opened as wide as the nearby Blackwall Tunnel.

But for most of the game Charlton were forced to live on scraps, and Sunderland were robbed of a glorious opportunity to score a second goal after 58 minutes.

A rampaging run by Kevin Kilbane that started inside his own half ended with his deflected shot tipped on to the crossbar by Kiely.

Phillips gathered the rebound and Sunderland still had a very presentable chance, only for referee Dermot Gallagher to inexplicably award a corner.

Clearly, he thought the ball had bounced into play off the stanchion or advertising boards behind the goal, but it was a decision that could jeopardise his Premiership future.

That precipitated a spell of prolonged Charlton pressure that culminated in Rowett's goal, and Lisbie might have struck a winner after capitalising on Wright's late slip.

But Sunderland, too, threatened in the final few minutes, and from Flo's header Kiely dived low to his left to save the ball on his goal-line.

Result: Charlton Athletic 1 Sunderland 1.

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