Diallo penalty earns Sunderland draw against Luton

Amad Diallo's ninth league goal this season saw Sunderland narrowly avoid a fifth defeat in six league games

Substitute Amad Diallo scored an 86th-minute penalty to earn Sunderland a point and deny promotion-chasing Luton Town a fifth Championship victory in a six-game unbeaten run.

Alfie Doughty's second-half strike looked like it was going to be enough to earn a win that would have moved Luton to within four points of second-placed Sheffield United.

But a spirited late push by the the Black Cats finally wore down the Luton resistance and earned a deserved draw, which prevented Tony Mowbray's side from slipping to a fifth defeat in six league games.

• Relive Saturday's EFL action

Despite the late blow, Rob Edwards' men remain in fourth, but they are now six points adrift of the Blades, who are in FA Cup quarter-final action on Sunday, and three behind third-placed Middlesbrough who were comprehensive 4-0 winners over over Preston.

A largely uneventful first 45 minutes at the Stadium of Light had brought little hope of a thrilling second period, with only half-chances for both sides that barely troubled Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson or his counterpart Ethan Horvath.

The hosts had the better of the possession and also came closest to breaking the deadlock, Dan Neil striking the outside of the post from the edge of the box after some great approach play by Jack Clarke on the left wing.

But with just a shot on target apiece, the creativity and goalmouth incident fell a long way short of matching the endeavour.

That changed on the restart with the impressive Doughty having a fine low shot brilliantly pushed away by Patterson, before the midfielder profited from a goalkeeping error when his strike squirmed through the keeper's grasp following a well-worked free-kick.

Luke O'Nien almost levelled with in a couple of minutes, but his volley was well parried by Horvath, while Joe Gelhardt dragged an effort just wide.

But that was a sign of things to come as the Sunderland threat increased, culminating in on-loan Manchester United winger Diallo's ninth league goal levelling the scores late on after he was felled by Amari Bell.