Lee Johnson admitted Sunderland failed to ‘put the knife in when they had it to the jugular’ as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Shrewsbury Town.

Alex Pritchard gave Sunderland a 16th-minute lead with his first goal for the club but it was cancelled out by Dan Udoh on 64 after the hosts had David Davis sent off at the end of the first half.

Sunderland hit the woodwork twice on the second half but lacked the edge to make it back to back wins and are sixth in League One.

“Two points dropped? Yes – summed up lovely,” said Sunderland manager Johnson.

“The 15-minute spell after half-time gave them a feeling that they could get something.

“We didn’t do enough to really put the knife in when we had it to the jugular.

“I made my feelings very well known to the players because you have to maximise situations like that.

“It was a good goal from ‘Pritch’ and we controlled the play – we were quite comfortable and when we play simply, we play well.”

Johnson said he wants more moments of that quality from Pritchard.

“It was a really good finish,” he added. “He’s got that quality – no question. He’s in League One for a reason and at a big club that he believes in, which is important because he did have Championship offers.

“So there’s a mutual belief – him in us and us in him – and I need more moments like that.

“That’s what I expect from Alex Pritchard and a player of his quality.”

Johnson believes if Sunderland are more clinical, they will be among the promotion pack.

“We’ve got to maximise every opportunity in every game and if we do that enough, we’ll establish a points base that will give us an opportunity to be in good areas in the league,” he said.

“We’re up there, we’re in it, but this was a disappointment and we have to respect the point away from home going into a big game.”