In a game littered with mistakes and frantic football it was no surprise that the game between the PremiershipÂ’s bottom two teams should be decided by mistakes.
Sunderland's opener in first-half injury time, although well executed by Michael Gray, came as a result of Ivan Campo's wayward header out of defence while Wanderers' 80th minute equaliser came from an own goal by Sunderland defender Phil Babb.
At times it was desperation football with both sides unable to stamp any real authority on the game and it looked very much a relegation dogfight even in October.
It was poor fare and new Sunderland boss Howard Wilkinson and Wanderers' manager Sam Allardyce both looked to be facing a tough time in trying to restore some confidence to their crest fallen sides.
The first half was notable for the lack of creative football from both sides.
Wanderers on occasions managed to put passes together, Youri Djorkaeff being the main instigator but the lack of cutting edge in their attack meant that first, Thomas Myhre, then his 26th minute replacement Jurgen Macho, were never tested.
Sunderland faired little better but did look dangerous on the break, especially down the right flank but they too struggled to make the chances count.
Phillips was certainly off key in the opening minutes when he was given two half chances but wasted both of them.
Sunderland also used two of their substitutes inside the first 40 minutes, keeper Myhre going off after straining a thigh muscle but there was more concern when Claudio Reyna was stretchered off with a serious looking leg injury in the 39th minute.
Sunderland's woes, however, were quickly forgotten when Gray fired them ahead in first half injury time after picking up Campo's misplaced header out of defence and firing into the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards out.
The second half followed a similar pattern but with Sunderland happy to sit on their lead the onus was on Wanderers to produce the attacks.
At times it was a struggle, although Bernard Mendy went close to forcing the ball into the net, but in the end they were thankful for Babb's mistake which saw his glancing header go past his stranded keeper with ten minutes left