SUNDERLAND have been knocked off top spot in League One after Fleetwood scored two goals in the final nine minutes to salvage a point at Highbury Stadium.

The Black Cats looked to be cruising to victory as a first-half header from Ross Stewart and a second-half penalty from Aiden McGeady opened up a two-goal lead.

However, Callum Morton hauled Fleetwood back into it as he slotted home in the 81st minute, and while Thorben Hoffman produced a superb late save to keep Sunderland in front, the Wearsiders’ resistance crumbled for a second time in stoppage time.

Bailey Wright was penalised for a shirt pull from a Fleetwood corner, and Ged Garner stepped up to secure his side a point and ensure Sunderland would fall below Wigan in the League One standings.

The late concession was cruel on the Black Cats, although having established a position of considerable strength, Lee Johnson’s side spent the final quarter of the game on the back foot.

Johnson made one enforced change to the side that started last weekend’s win over Accrington Stanley, with Wright coming into the back four to replace the suspended Tom Flanagan.

The Black Cats quickly settled into their stride and came close to opening the scoring after five minutes with Stewart meeting Lynden Gooch’s cross, only for his header to fly straight at Fleetwood goalkeeper Alex Cairns.

However, while Sunderland were much the better side in the early exchanges, they would have fallen behind in the 16th minute had it not been for the razor-sharp reflexes of deadline-day signing Hoffman.

First, the German goalkeeper got down superbly to keep out Callum Morton’s low strike after the Fleetwood striker had broken behind Callum Doyle. That was an excellent stop, but Hoffman did even better seconds later, hauling himself to his feet to hack clear and prevent Ged Garner from being able to swoop on the rebound.

It was a superb double save, and its importance became clear three minutes later when Sunderland claimed the lead.

Elliot Embleton swung over a free-kick from close to the right touchline, and after easing ahead of his marker, Stewart glanced home a header from the edge of the six-yard box to claim his fifth goal of the season.

The Black Cats dominated the remainder of the first half, but were unable to add to their lead with McGeady firing just over after dribbling into space in the penalty area and Embleton flashing a low strike across the face of goal after Dennis Cirkin had released him into the left of the box.

Wright and Doyle made a decent job of containing the Fleetwood attack at the other end, although the hosts threatened just before half-time as Garner cut in from the right-hand side and curled a shot just beyond the far post.

Fleetwood boss Simon Grayson threw on an extra forward at the break, abandoning his five-man defensive shape, but it was Sunderland who remained the dominant force at the start of the second half and the Wearsiders almost extended their lead shortly before the hour mark.

McGeady cut across the face of the area before firing in a goal-bound effort, and Cairns did well to tip the ball over the bar.

However, the more the second half wore on, the more Fleetwood grew in confidence and Sunderland found themselves pushed back.

The hosts looked set to equalise in the 65th minute, but having allowed Morton to get on the wrong side of him, Carl Winchester recovered superbly to prod the ball away from the Fleetwood forward with a crucial last-ditch challenge.

Sunderland needed a second goal to make things safe, and it duly arrived from the penalty spot with 14 minutes left.

Harrison Biggins was penalised for grabbing Luke O’Nien to prevent the midfielder from reaching a corner, and while Cairns got a hand to McGeady’s spot-kick, he was unable to keep the ball out.

That should really have been that, but Fleetwood gave themselves a lifeline when they scored with nine minutes remaining.

Morton broke beyond the Black Cats defence, and while Hoffman came off his line, the Fleetwood forward rolled home a composed finish.

Morton was the home side’s best player all day, and he almost earned his side a point in stoppage time.

He rose above the Sunderland defence to meet a corner and power a header towards goal, but Hoffman produced a superb save to claw the ball to safety.

However, there was to be a final sting in the tail in stoppage time. Wright was penalised for the most minimal of shirt tugs, and Ged Garner stepped up to stroke home his spot-kick.