Sam Allardyce left 'crying into his wine' after Sunderland concede last-gasp Southampton equaliser

Sub Jermain Defoe had scored in the 85th minute to put the Black Cats on course for three crucial points.

But former Sunderland target Virgil van Dijk netted an injury-time equaliser to leave Allardyce and his players devastated.

Allardyce - who joked he'd be 'crying into his wine' while his family celebrated Mother's Day - was left gutted by the result.

"We are scoring goals, our only problem is clean sheets," added Allardyce.

"And it is a massive problem.

"It was going to be my first 1-0 win and I was going to be celebrating with my family on Mother's Day tomorrow.

"Now, I am going to be crying into my wine, I am telling you that now.

"I won't be very happy and hope I won't take it out on the grandkids!"

Allardyce will be working his players hard on the training ground over the coming two weeks at the Academy of Light.

Allardyce said: "A kick in the teeth is an understatement to explain how we feel, how dejected we are and how much more difficult we have made our job to survive in the Premier League.

"Three points, having no game next week and the other results going our way, would have meant we'd go three points clear of the relegation zone for the first time since I have been here.

"If any of the bottom three had won next week they couldn't have overtaken us.

"But we have thrown that opportunity away in just a few seconds by allowing one Southampton player to turn in our box and cross.

"We had ample time to shut him down and stop him crossing but we end up with a 1-1.

"We'd produced a fantastic performance, were 1-0 up going into those final seconds.

"But that ultimate clean sheet eluded us yet again.

"I thought today was going to be it and that I was going to be talking how about important those 1-0 wins are.

"Yet we have thrown it away again."