Sunderland 1 Southampton 1: Burley helps Keane on upward learning curve

Given that their manager is a dedicated follower of the drainpipe trouser cut, it is not just Roy Keane's Sunderland side who can be accused of lacking flair at the moment.

But while Stadium of Light regulars should not expect much in the way of an improvement this side of the January transfer window, the manager's positive approach is clearly rubbing off on his players, despite them dropping further behind the play-off chasers thanks to Gareth Bale's deflected injury-time effort.

"You can say it's two points lost but the gaffer's stressed it's a point gained," said Ross Wallace, Sunderland's goalscorer with a 20-yard free-kick.

Keane was unusually upbeat for one who had just seen his side go a third game without a win. Perhaps it was his successful post-match attempt to pick the brains of his rival, Saints' George Burley. Similar attempts this season, away from home, have often ended in frustration.

"Sometimes you go into a manager's room for a chat after the game but they don't turn up," Keane said. "It turns out one or two seem to have uncles and aunts and grannies with them, so it's all a learning curve as to what you end up doing afterwards."

Burley, however, was in and available. "Roy's got all the credentials, there's no doubt about that," said the former Sunderland defender. "It won't change overnight for him and Roy knows that, but I'm sure he'll be given time to stamp his own style on the team and prove himself."

Keane singled out the impressive Bale after the 17-year-old Wales international ended Southampton's four-game losing streak on the road with a shot which was deflected past Darren Ward by Steve Caldwell. "He was the last player I wanted the ball to fall to in the lead-up to their goal," Keane said. "He looks an outstanding talent."

But for Ward, the visitors would have enjoyed a comfortable win. "One of the saves he made was in the Gordon Banks class," Burley said. Sadly, it was a contest which provided little else to draw such a favourable kind of comparison.

Goals: Wallace (62) 1-0; Bale (90) 1-1.

Sunderland (4-4-2) Ward; Nosworthy, Caldwell, Collins, Nyatanga; Whitehead, Yorke, Kavanagh (Elliott, 80), Wallace; Murphy (Brown, 68), Connolly (Leadbitter, 75). Substitutes not used: Carson (gk), Miller.

Southampton (4-4-2) Davis; Makin, Lundekvam, Baird, Bale; Licka (Wright-Phillips, 68), Pele, Wright, Skacel (Surman, 63); Dyer, Jones (Rasiak, 63). Substitutes not used: Sarmiento, Bialkowski (gk).

Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire)

Man of the match: Bale.

Attendance: 25,667.