Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat was happy with their 1-1 draw at Stoke City.

But after starting the match in 16th, a point clear of the drop zone, they ended it 18th, a point adrift of safety, with both Hull and Leicester having leapfrogged them after winning their fixtures on Saturday.

Charlie Adam canceled out Sunderland's opener scored by Connor Wickham.

Asked afterwards if he was pleased with a point, Advocaat said: "Yes, I am because I think in the first half we played very poorly - we were lucky it was 1-1 at half time, so I could change something in the line-up.

"We had had some problems picking up players, but in the second half after the changes everyone knew what to do.

"From that moment on we also started playing football a little bit, it was much better than the first half, and we created three or four good opportunities.

"But they were the kind of chances where, at this level, you have to score because you don't get more than four or five in a game.

"Even in the first half at 1-0 up, we had the chance for Defoe. If it becomes 2-0, you never know what is going to happen then."