Sunderland boss Michael Beale paid tribute to derby saviour Nazariy Rusyn after seeing him come off the bench to rescue a point at Middlesbrough.
After coming to Wearside for the first time in September without his family from Zorya Luhansk, the Ukrainian striker has taken his time settling in. But on Sunday afternoon, at Riverside Stadium, he made a huge breakthrough when he scored a late equaliser to steal a 1-1 Championship draw.
“They are here now, which is fantastic for him on a personal level. All the time his English improves, he will have better connection with his team-mates on the pitch.”
The timing of Rusyn’s intervention was perfect, as Boro was threatening to pull a double over their neighbours.
Finn Azaz missed a clear goal after Sam Greenwood’s attempt was saved, and Abdoullah Ba was unable to get his shot past defender Rav van den Berg on the line as both teams wasted good first-half chances.
After Forss finally broke the deadlock in the 61st minute by blasting past Anthony Patterson, Rusyn, 25, was able to squeeze a dipping shot past keeper Tom Glover with seven minutes remaining, but it was not enough to secure the points.
Beale said: “Our reaction, I thought, was fantastic and we go and and score a goal and then after that, I thought that with one or two of the moments we had, certainly with [Jack] Clarke getting in down the left, that maybe we should do better again.
“But if you can’t win… It’s a big point, How big, we won’t know for another few weeks yet.”
Middlesbrough on the other hand
Michael Carrick, the manager of Middlesbrough, expressed his annoyance at losing so many points in a position to win.
Asked about his emotions, Carrick said: “Yes, definitely, frustration and there’s a little bit of we need to get what we deserve from games and performances. Finn Azaz missed a clear goal after Sam Greenwood’s attempt was saved, and Abdoullah Ba was unable to get his shot past defender Rav van den Berg on the line as both teams wasted good first-half chances.
“I feel for the boys because they put a lot into the game and showed a lot of quality, especially second half to control it fully, and not to come away with the win is disappointing.”