Sunderland came back from a goal behind at Brentford to salvage a crucial Premier League point, with both sides having goals ruled out by VAR.
Sunderland came from behind at Brentford on Saturday afternoon to salvage a point in a Premier League clash that was dictated by VAR drama.
Regis Le Bris made one change to his Sunderland starting XI from last weekend's victory over Fulham, with deadline day's season-long loan signing from Spurs, Kevin Danso, replacing Trai Hume from kick-off as the Black Cats altered shape.
On the seven-minute mark, central defender Dan Ballard believed he had scored the opener for Sunderland.
However, his goal was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check, with Danso controversially judged to have impeded the view of Bees goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Dan Ballard reacts to VAR call (Action Images via Reuters)Sunderland's opener being ruled out was frustrating for the Black Cats faithful, but it is pertinent to remember that without the much-debated rule, Le Bris' side would have went 2-0 down to Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final back in May 2025.
As half-time approached, Sunderland continued to create chances, with Enzo Le Fee rattling the Brentford post, and defender Thomas Meunier having a shot cleared off Kelleher's line as the Black Cats' pressure mounted.
The opening 45' ended in a goalless stalemate between the sides, with dominating proceedings with 56 percent possession and Brentford having failed to notch a shot on target at Robin Roefs' goal before the interval.
At half-time, Bees boss Keith Andrews made a brave triple substitution with Michael Kayode, Mamadou Sangare and Dango Ouattara replaced by Aaron Hickey, Yehor Yarmoliuk and Jadon Anthony, which instigated an improved display in the second 45'.
Brentford took the lead on the 57-minute mark courtesy of Vitaly Janelt, who had far too much time inside the Sunderland box following a poor clearance from Nordi Mukiele, and fired into the top corner of Roefs' net to see Andrews' side take the lead.
Le Bris reacted to going a goal down with positive changes by introducing last week's super substitute Wilson Isidor, and Trai Hume, in place of Nilson Angulo and Meunier respectively.
Minutes later, it was Brentford's turn to have a goal chalked out by VAR, with substitute Anthony finding the net before his strike was disallowed for a foul on Roefs, seeing the clash remain 1-0 to the hosts on the 71-minute mark.
Shortly after, Le Bris awarded £30.8m deadline day signing from Lyon, Malick Fofana, his Sunderland debut in place of the excellent Noah Sadiki, and the exciting winger played a hand in his side's equaliser.
A cross delivered towards Isidor at Brentford's back-post saw Keane Lewis-Potter foul the Sunderland striker and referee Thomas Bramall rightfully awarded a penalty.
Le Fee, who missed a spot-kick at the Gtech Community Stadium last season with an embarassing failed panenka attempt, redeemed himself this time around by emphatically picking out the bottom right corner and sending Kelleher the wrong way in the process to open his account for the season.
Enzo Le Fee scores equalising penalty for Sunderland (Action Images via Reuters)Both sides probed for the winner, with several key defensive interventions from both Brentford and Sunderland defenders seeing the thrilling clash ended 1-1.
The result saw Andrews' side continue their impressive unbeaten start to the 2026/27 Premier League campaign, and Sunderland pick up their first point on the road this season after the opening weekend defeat at Ipswich Town.
Overall, Le Bris' side will feel they had the better quality of chances to win the game, evidenced by their 1.94 xG in comparison to Brentford's 1.25, but given the VAR drama within the clash and both sides having goals disallowed, both sides were good value for sharing the spoils.
