It was a result shaped by fine margins, a red card that shifted the balance during the final stages and a lack of quality that ultimately cost Sunderland a deserved point. The performance featured plenty to admire but the outcome leaves the table looking tighter than anyone at the club would like.

The ChronicleLive newspaper has revealed that Regis Le Bris decided to rest Dan Ballard during the game against Brighton, substituting him in the second half due to physical problems, but that, in any case,

Liverpool transfer news as the Reds are given the green light to sign 'complete' midfielder as Arne Slot's hopes at signing a $39 million winger have been dashed by Sunderland

Sunderland have suffered a fresh double setback, with Nilson Angulo and Enzo Le Fée both missing Brighton’s visit to the Stadium of Light. Granit Xhaka and Brian Brobbey do return, but Régis Le Bris must reshuffle again ahead of next weekend’s Tyne-Wear derby.

Sunderland will hope to match the success of their last summer transfer window when the current Premier League season comes to an end.

The Sunderland Echo has revealed Sunderland's interest in Feyenoord player Anis Hadj Moussa, who has great offensive potential, as demonstrated in the Eredivisie.

Port Vale came into the fifth round as one of two clubs outside the top two divisions of English football remaining. The League One squad had not made it beyond the third round of the FA Cup in 20 years, and now they are one win away from the club’s first quarterfinal berth since 1954.

Ballard takes off his shirt in celebration after equalising against Coventry. Martin Swinney/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images This has been Sunderland’s greatest calendar year of the 21st century. Not only did they clamber back into the Premier League ...

Ellborg, Geertruida, Ballard, Alderete, Hume, Sadiki, Xhaka, Rigg, Diarra, Talbi, Brobbey. Subs: Moore, Cirkin, Mayenda, O'Nien, Isidor, H Jones, J Jones, JM Jones, Whittaker. Brighton XI: Verbruggen,