Bruce takes positives from draw

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce claimed a 2-2 draw was a fair result after watching his side concede a late equaliser against Everton on Monday.

After Tim Cahill gave David Moyes’ side the perfect start at the Stadium of Light, on-loan Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck scored a double to put Sunderland in the lead.

But Mikel Arteta scored an 82nd minute equaliser for Everton after his low drive was deflected in by Phil Bardsley, and Bruce admitted Everton deserved a share of the points.

“We started off slowly, that’s for sure,” Bruce told Sky Sports. “I think Everton are one of the better teams in the Premier League and to get off to an awful start like we did put us on the back foot.”

“We responded and, overall, I would have taken 2-2, but we’re a bit aggrieved that we conceded too late. All in all, I think a draw was a pretty fair result.”

The point leaves Sunderland in seventh on the Premier League table and Bruce believes his side will continue to improve.

“We had a good start last year, but we had a really difficult winter,” Bruce said.

“We have got off to a decent start and the lads who have come in, like Danny Welbeck, I could go round a few who have come in and added to the squad and played particularly well.”

“We’re improving and it’s going to take time. We’ve got to aspire to be somebody like Everton, who have been in the Premier League since year dot.”

“I can see signs that we’re improving and going forward.”

Everton boss David Moyes would have reason to feel aggrieved, after Keiron Richardson supplied the cross for Welbeck’s second goal from a clearly offside position.

But Moyes did not complain, saying: “Obviously it was an offside goal – but it was a difficult one for the linesman to see, wasn’t it?”

Jermaine Beckford missed a golden opportunity to win the match in the last minute of injury time and Moyes lamented his side’s inability to take their chances.

“It was a great chance in the last seconds, through on goal,” he said.

“You wouldn’t want any more. To be fair, that’s what he normally does, he normally finishes those, and it could have been three points.”

“We got some crosses in, we got into some good positions, but we didn’t make them pay again tonight. In the end it cost us.”