Free report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland and Luton Town at the Stadium of Light, as a late Amad Diallo penalty gave the Black Cats a point on Saturday.

Amad Diallo’s 86th-minute penalty allowed Sunderland to secure a point and dampened Luton’s automatic promotion hopes after a 1–1 draw at the Stadium of Light.

The Hatters looked to be closing within four points of the top two in the Sky Bet Championship after Alfie Doughty’s long range shot opened the scoring early in the second half.

But after being brought down by Amari Bell in the final five minutes of the game, Amad dusted himself off to score his ninth goal of the season from the penalty spot.

The man on loan from Manchester United was one of five second-half substitutes introduced by Tony Mowbray, and his changes helped ensure the Black Cats did not suffer a second home defeat in the space of four days after their reverse half. weekday at the hands of Sheffield United.

There was very little to choose between the two teams throughout the afternoon, with defenses on top and scoring chances few and far between until the closing stages.

Elijah Adebayo created Luton’s first chance in the opening five minutes, but although his long-range shot hit home, it lacked the power to seriously test Anthony Patterson, who received his first England cap. Sub-21 before. this week.

Bell threatened to ask Patterson another question soon after, but the Luton defender’s dribble into the box was stopped by a perfectly timed sliding tackle from Luke O’Nien.

Sunderland hadn’t threatened at all in that stage, but the hosts came within inches of a breakthrough on 17 minutes. Jack Clarke put the ball back to Dan Neil after a takedown down the left side, and from the corner of the box From 18 yards, the Black Cats midfielder launched a great effort against the outside of the right post.

That was more or less that in terms of goal-scoring efforts before the break, although Luton were indebted to Gabe Osho for an excellent defensive header that saw him clear a battered cross from Patrick Roberts from under his own crossbar.

The action picked up a point or two after the break, with Luton claiming the lead six minutes after the break.

Patterson made a great save to clear away a low effort from Doughty, but the Sunderland keeper was lacking when the Luton full-back fired another goal 60 seconds later.

Having received the ball from a short free-kick, Doughty drilled an effort through a slew of lengths that appeared to catch Patterson sight unseen. The 22-year-old goalkeeper reached into the ball, but could only help it into the net.

Sunderland responded positively to being left behind, but while O’Nien found the target after a corner came his way, Ethan Horvath responded with a clever low save.

Joe Gelhardt hauled in a deflected shot moments later as the Black Cats continued to press, and the hosts’ persistence was rewarded when Bell was deemed to have brought Amad down as he stormed into the box. Amad came up and leveled from the spot.