REGIS Le Bris was pleased with the way his Sunderland side started and finished against Watford - but disappointed with what he watched in between.
The Black Cats got off to an ideal start when Luke O'Nien nodded them in front after just 16 minutes.
But Sunderland gifted Watford a leveller late in the first half when Dennis Cirkin fouled Mamadou Doumbia in the box and Tom Dele-Bashiru made no mistake from the spot.
Imran Louza then lashed in a stunner immediately after the restart and Sunderland looked destined to lose for the first time this season only for Dennis Cirkin to equalise in the last minute.
Sunderland then had two glorious chances to win it in stoppage time but Wilson Isidor and substitute Milan Aleksic were both denied by Watford debutant goalkeeper Egil Selvik.
Le Bris said: "I'm a bit disappointed. We started well and we finished well... it wasn't really a surprise the challenge we faced today because we knew before the game that this team was very powerful, with many players with high pace.
"I think probably it suits perfectly our weaknesses, we are well organised but we are not as powerful and so in 1-v-1 we were dominated.
"In that kind of situation the best solution is to work together, but I don't think we did this in the first half. They had the ball and we faced that challenge.
"It's never easy to find one single reason but at the end of the game we spoke about the pressure, we could have been more efficient. But because they were able to play long and to then keep the ball in 1-v-1, it's never easy to apply a press. So the other side is to keep the ball [instead] and then the opponent can't play long to their strength.
"I think after the second goal, we decided to play with our strength. It was more positive because it is not easy to change the dynamic of the game.
"Our subs helped, they brought some energy. At the end, we had good chances to win. We knew this would not be an easy challenge, they are a good team with strong individuals. We were able to change the dynamic at the end.
"These two opportunities at the end we can be disappointed with. You can struggle in a game but at the end, if you are clinical then you can win. You can say, 'we were a bit lucky but we got three points'. We have had opportunities like this before and so it is clear that this is a part of our game we have to improve."
Sunderland were without Jobe Bellingham, who missed the game with an ankle injury but he's expected to return against Luton Town on Wednesday night.
Le Bris said: "Especially against this kind of team, with a high level of physicality. Jobe is very impressive in this part of the game.
"He wasn't available so we had to find another solution. We have to manage a long season with injuries, suspension... football is always like this and hopefully we will learn from this experience.
"Jobe had a small ankle injury but he should be available on Wednesday."
