Sunderland and Di Canio left looking over their shoulders

Sunderland 1 Southampton 1

For all the Italian’s self-publicity, it’s never advisable to leave yourselves open to the Houdini-like powers of Wigan Athletic in mid-May. Yet that is exactly what Sunderland have managed to do, after sharing the spoils with a Southampton side who ensured their return to the top flight won’t be confined to a single season.

The odds again increased slightly, though not decisively, against Di Canio’s side accompanying Reading and QPR into the Championship, but salvation is not yet sealed. It could be if Wigan fail to win at Arsenal tomorrow, but you only need ask Manchester City about the newly-crowned FA Cup-winners’ special powers when bums are at their most squeaky.

Should Roberto Martinez’s history-making side secure their second eye-catching result in the capital inside 72 hours, it will take matters to the final round of games.

“We didn’t really deserve to win,” admitted Di Canio, whose side are four points better off than Wigan with a significantly superior goal difference. “It’s another step towards safety and given what I came into, it’s a miracle to get eight points from the six games since I arrived. It’s a massive number of points, and I’d have settled for that at the end of March. Our destiny is still in our own hands.”

With a forward line bereft of threat, defence is often the best form of attack. So it again proved as, for the second successive home game, a defender, Phil Bardsley, scored on 68 minutes to earn the point that edges Sunderland ever-closer to securing a seventh consecutive season in the Premier League.

However, the Saints were marching towards a deserved point within eight minutes as James Ward-Prowse and Jason Puncheon, both introduced from the bench, combined for the latter to score at the second attempt after his header was initially blocked by Simon Mignolet.

Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino said: “We’re happy with what we’ve achieved. It’s a demanding league both mentally and physically and we’ve learned a lot in this season. We’re on the right path.”