Rotherham defender Michael Ihiekwe opened the scoring when he headed home a corner in the first half, while Sunderland struggled to create chances in the opening 45 minutes.
Alex Neil made some attacking substitutions in the second half, with Alex Pritchard, Jack Clarke and Elliot Embleton entering the fray.
Yet it took until the 88th minute for the hosts to draw level when Ihiekwe headed Clarke’s cross into his own net.
Our chief SAFC writer Phil Smith has delivered his verdict on how each Black Cats player fared at the Stadium of Light:
5. Trai Hume - 5
Threatened to break forward once or twice but wasn’t able to make an impact in the final third. Steady enough defensively. 5 Photo: Frank Reid
6. Dan Neil - 5
Made some good challenges through the first half and kept his side ticking at times, but didn’t get forward and threaten the goal much. 5 Photo: Frank Reid
7. Pierre Ekwah - 5
Rarely gave the ball away and moved it well enough at times, but didn’t have much chance to break into the final third in a quiet performance. 5 Photo: Frank Reid
8. Patrick Roberts - N/A
A big injury worry ahead of the derby. Went down just ten minutes into the game after making a clearance up the pitch, and immediately signalled for a substitution. Not what you want to see a week before the derby. N/A Photo: Frank Reid