Sunderland boss Roy Keane was delighted with the show of steel from his side in yesterday's 1-1 draw at Wigan.
Keane said his side's hard-fought draw at Wigan showed the strides his side have made in their second Premier League campaign despite being denied three points by Amr Zaki's late equaliser.
The Black Cats looked to be heading for a valuable victory thanks to a 13th-minute own goal from Titus Bramble before the home side's relentless pressure told 12 minutes from time.
But having been hammered 3-0 in the corresponding fixture last season, Keane was eager to accentuate the positives of a side featuring two debutants in Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney.
Keane said: "We got turned over here 3-0 last year and we got bullied. We weren't bullied today. We proved we were up for the battle. A draw away from home in the Premier League is not the end of the world for us."
However Keane did admit to ruing a glorious chance for striker Djibril Cisse, who rammed a low shot straight at advancing keeper Chris Kirkland on the hour when he should have done better.
Keane added: "If Cisse takes his chance when he's one on one with the keeper it's all over. But if you don't take those chances they come back to haunt you and their striker, who is pretty sharp at the moment, took his chance well."