ALMOST gone, but certainly not forgotten. Jody Craddock's imminent departure from Sunderland was mourned by the club's fans last night as they got an unpalatable taste of life without the defender.

As Tynecastle reverberated to chants of "There's only one Jody Craddock" from the 1,000-strong Sunderland support, the team he is poised to leave behind in the Nationwide League came from 2-0 down to earn an unlikely draw with Heart of Midlothian.

And while Craddock prepared to complete a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Black Cats' makeshift central defensive partnership of Joachim Bjorklund and Darren Williams was repeatedly breached. Sunderland were already trailing to a super strike from former Middlesbrough midfielder Phil Stamp when Williams was beaten to a cross by Mark De Vries. The forward planted a firm header beyond Mart Poom to double Hearts' lead on 38 minutes, and it could easily have got worse for Sunderland's defence.

Time and again, De Vries was given space in dangerous areas, and only a smart save from Poom prevented the big striker from putting Hearts 3-0 up shortly after half time. Bjorklund looked unsure throughout, while the versatile Williams is clearly a better player as right-back or in midfield than the centre of defence.

Mick McCarthy has other options as he looks to replace Craddock, but with just one friendly left - at Kilmarnock on Saturday - before the big kick-off the Sunderland manager is running out of time as he searches for a settled side. To Sunderland's credit, they showed character to extricate themselves from trouble yesterday - although in the dying stages they incensed Hearts with a series of robust challenges.

Eventually, Paul Thirlwell was booked after other fouls had merited only a talking-to from referee Ian Fyfe. But in that spell, which came after Sean Thornton's two goals inside three minutes had hauled the visitors level, Sunderland suggested they are prepared for the physical demands of the Nationwide League.

Stamp, the best player on the night, gave Hearts the lead with a rasping long-range drive that beat Poom's dive. Sunderland seemed to be drifting towards defeat after De Vries struck, but Thornton turned the game on its head shortly after coming off the bench.

First, he curled a wonderful 30-yard free-kick into the top corner to give his side hope.

And then the midfielder headed home John Oster's far-post cross after good work from Kevin Kyle had unlocked the Hearts rearguard.

Sunderland (4-4-2): Poom; Wright, Bjorklund, Williams, McCartney; Oster, McAteer, Whitley (Thirlwell 64), Kilbane (Thornton 71); Stewart (Proctor 58), Kyle. Subs (not used): Clark, Butler.

Result: Heart of Midlothian 2 Sunderland 2.

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