CHERRIES were forced to settle for a point in the North East despite dominating for large spells.

Benik Afobe's 12th goal of the season, and second for Cherries following his move from Wolves this month, was cancelled out by a Patrick van Aanholt strike on the stroke of half-time.

Eddie Howe's side bossed an entertaining first-half at the Stadium of Light and should have really put the game beyond Sam Allardyce's strugglers.

But missed chances let the hosts back in the game on Wearside, while Lewis Grabban missed a gilt-edged chance late on to win the game for the visitors.

Bournemouth Echo:

Howe named an unchanged side following Saturday's impressive 3-0 win over Norwich at Vitality Stadium, with January signings Juan Iturbe and Lewis Grabban having to settle for places on the bench. Matt Ritchie, who missed the Canaries game with a dead leg, was also named among the substitutes.

After an opening largely dominated by the hosts in terms of possession, Charlie Daniels got the first effort on target after six minutes, Vito Mannone saving easily.

Moments later, following an intense spell of pressure on the Sunderland back four, Afobe almost got on the end of Dan Gosling's ball across the face of goal.

And on 13 minutes, Cherries were in front, assisted, it has to be said, by some dubious goalkeeping from Vito Mannone.

Bournemouth Echo:

Harry Arter fed Junior Stanislas down the right, who crossed into the danger area and, following a favourable bounce, Afobe headed directly at Mannone who could only flap at the ball and help it on its way into the net.

The home crowd were furious and boos rang out across the Stadium of Light when Stanislas almost doubled Cherries' lead two minutes later. A clever corner routine involving Stanislas and Arter saw Andrew Surman shoot narrowly wide. It was all Cherries.

Stanislas again went close when forcing Mannone to beat away his right-foot shot after good work from Gosling, before Afobe did likewise eight minutes later.

It seemed a question of when Cherries would score a second rather than if they would, but Sunderland survived the storm and settled. Yann M'Vila's cross from the left just after the half-hour mark was headed back across goal by Billy Jones and John O'Shea's header forced Artur Boruc to save well down to his left.

Moments before the break, Fabio Borini's deflected effort was easily saved by Boruc, before van Aanholt levelled the scores.

Bournemouth Echo:

Jerome Lens squared to Borini who played in van Aanholt and, with Adam Smith and Stanislas having lost sight of the Dutchman, he unleashed a fearsome shot across Boruc. Howe's men were left wondering why, instead of being level, they hadn't converted the chances they had done so well to create as the teams walked into the tunnel.

Stanislas should have done better just after the restart when blazing well over Mannone's crossbar while, at the other end, Adam Johnson's volley was easily saved by Boruc.

Jermain Defoe had been quiet by his standards but went close to handing Sunderland the lead on 56 minutes, his right-foot shot flashing narrowly wide after the little striker had given Simon Francis the slip.

The home side were in the ascendancy and Boruc was again on hand to halt their charge when he beat away Jones's header from Adam Johnson's cross.

The game sprung into life 20 minutes from time. M'Vila forced Boruc to save when he connected beautifully to Lens's free kick from the left. Suddenly Allardyce's side looked like they had a bit of fight in them. They tackled and chased hard and closed down far better than they had during that first half period where Cherries should have been more than one goal in front.

Howe would have almost certainly taken a point at this stage of the game and with Allardyce's side looking the more threatening, although the Cherries boss would have watched in horror as Grabban, who had beaten the offside trap superbly, skewed his shot horribly wide with only Mannone to beat seven minutes from time. It was a wonderful chance. A match-winning chance.

Stanislas was replaced by Glenn Murray late on, carried off by physio Steve Hard with a knee injury following a nasty tackle by Jones.

MATCH FACTS

Sunderland: (4-4-1-1) Mannone; Jones, Brown, O'Shea, van Aanholt; Lens (Rodwell, 87), M'Vila, Cattermole, Borini (Watmore, 68); Johnson; Defoe.

Unused subs: N'Doye, Coates, Yedlin, Fletcher, Pickford (g/k).

Booked: Jones

Cherries: (4-5-1) Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Stanislas, Gosling, Surman, Arter, Pugh (Ritchie, 57); Afobe (Grabban, 65).

Unused subs: Distin, O'Kane, Iturbe, Murray, Federici (g/k).

Booked: Surman

Referee: Roger East.

Attendance: 41,367.