GUS POYET claims Sunderland have successfully drawn a line under last month’s record-breaking capitulation at Southampton and established some firm foundations they can build on after the international break.

Six days after earning their first away win of the season at Crystal Palace, the Black Cats picked up another point and rose to 14th position in the table courtesy of a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Everton.

Seb Larsson’s curled free-kick broke the deadlock midway through the second half, and while Everton levelled when Connor Wickham’s foul enabled Leighton Baines to equalise from the penalty spot, Sunderland’s all-round display still merited respect given the extent of their failings last month.

An Everton side who had put three goals past European opponents Lille three days earlier were restricted to a handful of half-chances, and while the Black Cats’ own attacking continues to lack conviction, at least there has been a steadying of the ship since things went so catastrophically wrong at St Mary’s.

“The idea was to stop the negativity and all the bad things we were doing on the pitch with a few good results,” said Poyet. “And we have done that. I watched Everton on Thursday and they were outstanding. They ran over Lille completely, so we knew what they were capable of.

“We played the game differently, we were not Lille. We didn't give them too much space, and we didn't allow them to get into the box or create a lot of chances.

“They had two or three, and from one Costel (Pantilimon) did exceptionally well to keep us in the game, but we played quite well and created chances and, on another day, Wes (Brown) would have scored (with a stoppage-time header). So when we think about where we were a week ago, then yes, I think it's better.”

Yesterday’s game hinged on Lee Mason’s critical decision to award a penalty when Wickham felled Seamus Coleman in the area as the full-back prepared to shoot following a through ball from Samuel Eto’o.

It took Mason an eternity to award the decision, with a lengthy consultation with his assistant adding to the confusion, and the home supporters in the Stadium of Light were clearly incensed with the referee’s final verdict.

However, replays suggest Wickham caught Coleman long before he made contact with the ball, and Poyet concedes that Mason was right to award a penalty.

“I would give it,” said the Sunderland head coach. “I need to be honest. If I was the referee, I would give it.

“He (Wickham) touched the ball, I don't know, one quarter of a second after touching him (Coleman). He mis-kicked. He didn't try to shoot or take a touch, I don't know what he was doing. But if I was the referee, I would give the penalty.”

Unsurprisingly, Roberto Martinez also agreed with the decision to award a spot-kick, and the Everton boss also felt Wickham should have been dismissed for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

“It was a clear penalty,” he said. “There’s no intention whatsoever, it’s just a striker trying to win the ball when he was late in the box, but he gets the wrong side.

“Seamus makes a fantastic run, it was great penetrating play, and once you give the penalty away, it’s a red card. I don’t agree with the rule if I’m honest with you, but that’s not the debate.

“The debate is that it was a penalty, and it should have been a red card, and I felt that would have been a major moment understanding how the game was and the situation of the two teams.”

Sunderland now head into a two-week international break which will enable them to get some of their key players ready for the trip to Leicester on November 22.

Lee Cattermole will be available after suspension at the King Power Stadium, with Billy Jones and Emmanuele Giaccherini also hoping to be fit by the end of the international hiatus.

However, there is not such a positive prognosis when it comes to Patrick van Aanholt, with the full-back requiring surgery after dislocating his shoulder at Selhurst Park last Monday.

“Patrick is bad news,” said Poyet. “He is going to need an operation so he's going to be out for two-and-a-half months - or a little bit more. (Sebastian Coates) should be back training during the international break, and Billy and Giacc should be back just before Leicester or the following Monday.”