Sunderland boss reveals what he wants from his side after Southampton draw

Sunderland should have come away with all three points from St Mary's Stadium after sub Jermain Defoe opened the scoring after 85 minutes.

But they couldn't hold on and threw away another clean sheet with Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk popping up with a crushing injury time equaliser.

Sunderland players left deflated after late Southampton equaliser

The draw saw Sunderland pull a point clear of the drop zone, with Aston Villa, Norwich City and Newcastle United all beaten.

Allardyce, though, knows games are running out fast for Sunderland, who now have a fortnight's break before the Tyne-Wear derby.

"We have to stop giving away points very quickly as we only have nine games left," added the Sunderland boss.

"We have only got 25 points from 29 games, that is not enough.

"I have been satisfied with the performances and pleased with the contribution of the new players and the rest of the team lifting their levels but it is not producing the wins we need to get out of trouble.

"We have thrown it away and put more pressure on ourselves.

"In the end I hope we can handle that pressure.

"It is not about what Newcastle or the others do, it is about us getting to 38 points as quickly as we can.

"We should have had 27 points and only needed another 11 from nine games.

"We don't have that opportunity now.

"I am pleased with performances but we have to turn them into victories and very quickly."

Ronald Koeman's Saints were reduced to 10 men after the 79th minute sending off Jose Fonte and Allardyce was left frustrated his players didn't see out the game after taking the lead.

He added: "The celebration of a goal can mean you switch off.

"But our problem was not playing out with the ball and keeping the ball against ten men when they started taking the risks they were taking, throwing centre halves up.

"When we have the ball, don't give it back to them as we had so much space to play in.

"They were throwing bodies forward and were down to 10 men anyway.

"We had to frustrate them and see the game out, but we didn't do that."