Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has claimed that refereeing decisions prevented his team from winning their game against Stoke City this afternoon.

The Black Cats managed to earn a 1-1 draw after Jermain Defoe scored a dramatic 94th-minute penalty.

While Allardyce is relieved to earn a point, he has taken issue with some of the decisions during the game, such as a denied penalty and a foul in the build-up to Stoke's goal.

"It is a brilliant point in the end but for me one that could have been a win rather than the draw," BBC Sport quotes Allardyce as saying.

"Obviously they didn't deserve their goal because it was a blatant foul on Younes Kaboul and we should have had a penalty when Geoff Cameron flicks the ball with his hand and referee and his assistant don't see it. Those things have gone against us today which has not allowed us to be in a position to win it.

"It is a very precious point and in the end the referee was brave and good enough to make the right decision for us for the penalty."

Sunderland have dropped into the relegation zone, but are just one point from safety with three games left to play.