Doncaster boss delivers Sunderland verdict and explains why he felt equaliser was 'deserved'

Moore praised his player's persistence in breaking down that he said was 'a very strong rearguard' from Phil Parkinson's side.

Sunderland were on the brink of sealing three valuable points when right-back Brad Halliday produced a superb turn in the box, his cross eventually finding Fejiri Okenabirhie at the back post. The striker had a simple finish to rescue a point that the hosts were perhaps fortunate to land.

They had been outplayed in the first half, and though they improved significantly in the second, Remi Matthews had rarely been tested.

They did enjoy some promising openings, though, and Moore said he felt hte goal was ultimately deserved.

"That goal probably meant more because of the way they kept at it, they way they kept going,” he said.

"Sunderland are a good team and we knew it would be another tight game.

"To unpick them like that with Brad Halliday's brilliant bit of skill to make it was excellent.

"Sunderland set their stall out.

"They are a very, very strong rearguard to try and break down and that's probably why that goal meant more to me and was as an important a goal this season because the of the way the boys kept probing."

"I was pleased with the players and I said they deserved it for the way that they kept at it."

Moore conceded that his side had been outplayed in the latter stages of the first half, with Grant Leadbitter's stunning strike giving the Black Cats a lead that their play had deserved.

Sunderland had also been unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Joe Wright appeared to foul Lynden Gooch in the box.

Moore made some adjustments at half time, and was pleased with the play his side produced in the second half as a result.

“I looked at the game and I thought for the first ten or 15 minutes we were really bright,” Moore said.

“They had a spell in the game where they just found their shape and we got caught in between - do we go or do we stay off?

“When we did go, we didn’t go all together so at times we got picked off in certain areas and we felt ourselves having to do almost double the work in terms of getting up and defending.

“At half time we made one or two adjustments and that just jinked the team shape a bit more and made us more solidified.

“It also put them on the back foot and the pendulum swung back into the second half.

"It was a clear game of chess today from both managers and both teams.

“I thought it was a good game and nothing surprises me with the level and type of game it was.

“To go a goal down against that type of opposition, I’ve got nothing but credit for the players in terms of that.

“I sit here really pleased with the type of game it was.”

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