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A late Kenwyne Jones strike ensured Sunderland salvaged a point in the 128th Tees-Wear derby away to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Alfonso Alves put Middlesbrough in the lead on the stroke of half-time, but with the game drawing to a close Jones finished off a lightning quick counter-attack to the delight of the Mackems faithful. Sunderland could have even won it in a pulsating finish.

With much bragging rights at stake - a Middlesbrough win would propel them above their neighbours but a defeat could potentially consign them to the foot of the table - the game began tentatively.

Keen to avoid losing their fourth game in a row, Middlesbrough started the brighter and hungrier; yet their early endeavour bore scant reward.

Hunger and desire can only take a team so far, and distinctly lacking imagination the home side were restricted to efforts from distance.

Downing had the first but struck straight at Marton Fulop. Didier Digard and Julio Arca had efforts that were not so much straight at the 'keeper, more so the corner flag.

Middlesbrough hadn't scored in three games before today and with shooting like that it was little wonder.

Sunderland, a side with pace to burn, punctuated the swathes of neat Boro passing with clinical breaks that created inviting opportunities for both Jones and Cisse.

Unfortunately for Sunderland their front men were profligate - Jones heading wide, while Cisse's effort dropped kindly for Ross Turnbull in the Middlesbrough goal.

It was with a swift Middlesbrough counter-attack that the otherwise anonymous Alves completely changed the complexion of this tight affair at the end of the first half.

Want-away England winger Stuart Downing led the break and played in Alves on the edge of Sunderland's area, not having to break stride the Brazilian met the square ball sweetly and left Fulop with little hope.

It was the first real contribution from the Brazilian who had up until that point found it difficult to get to grips with Nyron Nosworthy physical interpretation of the beautiful game; but having seen his side score for the first time in three games boss Gareth Southgate will care little.

Having endured a first half starved of clear-cut chances the Tees-Wearside crowd would have hoped to see more attacking intent following Alves' late first-half strike.

Sunderland duly showed more attacking intent, but with injuries, substitutions and stoppages aplenty they could not force any kind of concerted pressure on their hosts.

Sunderland were restricted to half chances and shots from distance while chasing the game. And luck looked not to be on the Black Cats' side, with referee Phil Dowd waving away a penalty claim, after Adam Johnson appeared to handle.

As the game drew to a close Middlesbrough looked likely to leapfrog their neighbours and rivals, but two substitutes - Andy Reid and David Healy - combined for Jones to tap home.

Reid played in Healy who centred for the Trinidadian to arrive late and fire home from six yards out.

With seven minutes remaining Sunderland really went for it and Middlesbrough were hanging on.

Carlos Edwards came closest to giving his side an unlikely victory, his glancing header cleared of the line by Johnson.

With a corner in the final minute it looked as though Middlesbrough had suffered their final scare but Jones headed clear and Cisse broke through on goal - a last ditch McMahon tackle saving a point for the home side.

Marcus Foley / Eurosport