Sunderland manager also unhappy with a point from the big promotion battle against Posh

Aiden McGeady's classy free kick flies past Posh goalkeeper Christy Pym for the Sunderland equaliser. Photo: David Lowndes.

The Black Cats needed a classy late equaliser from an Aiden McGeady set-piece to stretch an impressive unbeaten run in League One to 12 matches. Substitute Siriki Dembele had fired Posh in front 15 minutes earlier.

Sunderland remain third two points behind Posh and now five points behind leaders Hull who eased to a 3-0 home win over Northampton Town. Sunderland have the games in hand to go top, but travel to Hull later this month.

“We went for the win,” Johnson told the visiting media. “But I suppose it was a good point from 1-0 down with 20 minutes to go.

Sunderland defender Luke O'Nein makes an unsual clearance in the 1-1 draw with Posh. Photo: David Lowndes.

“I wouldn’t have taken a point before the game. You can see in our attitude to the team selection and the subs that that was never the case.

“We didn’t play like we were looking for a draw. We weren’t timid. We had two number nines on the pitch and there was good intent from the players. We just didn’t have that moment of brilliance to get that first goal, although it did come for the equaliser.

“We dominated the first half territorially and I think we played the conditions well. We were composed and calm, but we didn’t quite have the clear-cut chances that we wanted, probably due to their good defending and at the same time their chances came from poor errors from us.

“They definitely had a spell just before they scored, and I was disappointed we didn’t see that out because generally we have done that well.

“But our bench was really strong today, probably the strongest since I have been here, and it showed. There was positive intent from the lads who came on and got into the game quickly and at that point we took over and had near-misses at the end and could have won it.

“We were definitely in the ascendancy after we scored and they were hanging on a bit, but at the same time both teams were still going for it.”

“I brought McGeady central. He wasn’t having his best game, partly due to the pitch and partly due to their good defending, but you leave him on the pitch if he is physically right because he has the quality he showed with his goal in his locker.

“You can see that the pitch was difficult, and it was hard for our flair players to have that first touch that sets them on their way. I suppose that’s frustrating, and it was for them too because they have some good players as well.”

Sunderland have a home game with play-off chasing Charlton next Saturday (April 10) when Posh are at relegation-haunted Swindon Town. Hull are at Plymouth.