This game had everything and yet it’s most dramatic act was saved for the 96th minute when Callum McManaman equalised for Sunderland before charging into the Middlesbrough dugout and cocking his ear at his former West Brom boss Tony Pulis – it was a fitting finale.
The goal salvaged a point for the Championship’s bottom club after a derby in which both sides surrendered the lead and had a man sent off.
Jake Clarke-Salter and Boro’s Adama Traore were dismissed before half-time. Sunderland were leading 1-0 at the break thanks to Joel Asoro but two early second-half goals from Patrick Bamford and Grant Leadbitter reversed the scoreline.
Sunderland’s Callum McManaman scored late on to have the final say against Middlesbrough
McManaman hit the sixth goal of a Tees–Wear derby that also witnessed two red cards
Sunderland manager Chris Coleman congratulated McManaman at full time on Saturday
Jonny Williams levelled before Bamford got his second with what looked like the winning goal. McManaman, though, struck at the death to claim a point and in doing so make one to Pulis, the man he blames for his lack of game time at West Brom.
The contest was just 40 seconds old when Asoro, with a signal of Sunderland’s intent, lashed narrowly over from 25 yards.
That may well have been a range-finder for the Swede but his goal was all about instinct, prodding home from barely three yards out after stealing between defenders Daniel Ayala and Ryan Shotton to connect with striker partner Josh Maja’s headed flick.
Black Cats boss Chris Coleman has invested his faith in the teenage front pairing and they had an experienced Boro backline wearing a panicked look every time they charged forward.
Clarke-Salter’s 25-minute red card, then, could not have come at a worse time, such was the home side’s dominance. And it was a deserved dismissal, the Chelsea loanee turning Traore upside down – literally – with a reckless lunge on halfway. How needless.
It put Sunderland on the back foot but they regrouped and the loss of the centre-back – they started with three of them – was not as harmful as first feared.
Teenager Joel Asoro fired Sunderland ahead with his second goal of the season on 11 minutes
Jake Clarke-Salter, on loan from Chelsea, was shown a straight red for fouling Adama Traore
It was soon 10 vs 10 as Boro winger Traore was dismissed for an apparent off-the-ball incident
The best Boro could conjure before Traore’s red was an effort from the winger himself which was scooped well over from 12 yards.
On 37 minutes he was off. Again, stupidity played a part, the Spaniard raising his arms in a fracas with Bryan Oviedo and paying the price for a palm in the face of his opponent, who accepted the invitation of tumbling to the turf.
Traore reacted by screaming at the fourth official on his way towards the tunnel and was restrained by Boro substitute Adam Clayton, who he shoved in the chest.
It is likely the FA will take a closer look at his post-dismissal behaviour, which also included a rant at referee Tim Robinson.
The visitors had lost their best player but, despite that setback, somehow found themselves in front within eight minutes of the second half.
Eighteen-year-old Asoro broke the deadlock as he volleyed home after a flick-on by Josh Maja
Middlesbrough defenders watched on helplessly as Asoro’s effort flew into the back of the net
Sweden-born Asoro celebrated with strike-partner Maja, who was credited with the assist
There were no Sunderland celebrations when Jake Clarke-Salter was sent off on 24 minutes
The sliding challenge from Clarke-Salter sent Spanish winger Traore flying through the air
Clarke-Salter was given a pat on the back by Sunderland boss Chris Coleman as he trudged off
Sunderland wing back Bryan Oviedo had moments earlier accused Traore of elbowing him
Oviedo pointed his finger into Traore’s face before the referee eventually sent the Boro man off
Traore didn’t go quietly and took up his complaint with the fourth official after leaving the field
First, Bamford seized on a loose ball inside the area and spun away from goal with a double drag-back before returning a 10-yard shot into the bottom corner. It was a fine goal.
Then, with Sunderland reeling from that concession, Britt Assombalonga broke free and was toppled by sliding goalkeeper Lee Camp inside the area. Sunderland-born Leadbitter dispatched with a low roll into the side-netting and then made his way to the patch of turf where his father’s ashes are buried. It was a poignant moment.
Back the home side came and they were level five minutes later, substitute Williams steering into the bottom corner from Oviedo’s smart pull-back.
Bamford then skied over from 10 yards with an opening that was far easier than the one from he scored on 68 minutes.
That goal arrived on the back of an improvised piece of skill in lifting the ball over Camp before directing a half-volley into the net from an acute angle.
But there was one final twist when McManaman slammed home a first-time volley from Oviedo’s corner with just seconds remaining.
Former Chelsea youth Patrick Bamford equalised for Sunderland early in the second period
Boro midfielder Grant Leadbitter then put the visitors ahead on Wearside with a penalty kick
The next twist in this topsy-turvy game saw Jonny Williams drew Sunderland level at 2-2
Striker Bamford then bagged his his second goal to give Boro a 3-2 lead at the Stadium of Light