Sunderland midfielder Craig Gardner feels that his side should have held out for all three points in their Premier League clash with Southampton.

The Saints scored an 88th-minute equaliser through Jose Fonte to cancel out Emanuele Giaccherini's early strike for the Black Cats.

"Obviously it was a disappointing end to the game after we had held onto the lead for so long - it's a point on the board but it should have been three," Gardner told the club's official website.

"We came here with a game plan and I thought that we did really well; there was some solid defending out there and I think we were really unlucky not to leave with maximum points."

Sunderland have taken one point from their opening two Premier League games.