Chris Maguire struck with eight minutes to go to earn Sunderland a 1-1 draw against Bristol Rovers at the Stadium of Light.
Rovers had threatened to leave with three points after taking the lead in the third minute from a penalty converted by Rovers' left-back Luke Leahy.
The Pirates won a penalty with just 90 seconds on the clock when Sunderland goalkeeper Lee Burge hauled down Jayden Mitchell-Lawson having failed to hold Max Ehmer's header.
Leahy's spot-kick was clinical, high and beyond Burge, and that left Sunderland with a mountain to climb.
After the break, Sunderland tested goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola, who had to make a couple of strong stops to deny Maguire and George Dobson.
But Maguire levelled things up with a powerful drive from the edge of the area.
After that, Max Power's 25-yard drive was tipped onto the crossbar and he then had an effort cleared off the line by Mark Little.
Dobson's red card for a strong challenge on Mitchell-Lawson in the sixth minute of stoppage time effectively ended Sunderland's push for a winner.