Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop won praise from both managers after yesterday's 0-0 draw with Bolton Wanderers.
The Hungarian had barely had a shot to save such was the tepid nature of Bolton's performance.
But Gary Cahill's header seemed set to creep in during stoppage time until Fulop clawed it away.
"I thought it was in," admitted Bolton boss Gary Megson. "It was a magnificent save. I could not see him getting across and getting his fingertips to it."
Had Cahill scored, it would have dumped Sunderland right back in the mire.
However, with Hull losing, even if Monday's crucial Tyne-Tees spat ends up in a positive outcome, Ricky Sbragia's men will still be well placed to escape.
"It could be a significant save," said Sbragia.
"If we had lost it would have been a big disappointment because I felt we did enough to get something from the game."