LYNDEN GOOCH'S second-half equaliser secured Sunderland a point after the Black Cats turned in a poor first-half display at Portman Road.

Jack Ross' side looked to be heading for a deserved defeat as they trailed at the interval, but an improved performance after the break ensured they claimed their second 1-1 draw in the space of seven days.

Ipswich dominated the early stages and claimed a 15th-minute lead when Luke Garbutt squeezed a shot past Jon McLaughlin from an acute angle after Danny Rowe set him up in the box.

McLaughlin made an important save from Garbutt shortly before the interval, and the hosts also threatened through Cole Skuse, who had an effort cleared off the line, and James Norwood, who volleyed wide from a good position.

Sunderland improved in the second half, and levelled shortly after the hour mark when Gooch converted Marc McNulty's cross from the left-hand side.

Ross said: "The first half was a long way short of where we need to be. We had a frank discussion at half-time because we were behind to a team who did the fundamentals much better than us.

"But then we managed to do the basics better and won the second half to take something from the game."