THE patience of Sunderland fans has been sorely tried this season, and came close to breaking point before veteran striker Niall Quinn once again rose to the occasion and saved the day.

The emergence of Wearside boss Peter Reid from the trainers' box when Charlton went into a 2-0 lead was greeted with jeers and hoots of derision as his new look 4-3-3 formation looked set to come unstuck.

But Quinn - 35 next month - and England striker Kevin Phillips got together to rock Charlton back on their heels and stave off a revolt among disgruntled supporters seemingly resigned to a second home defeat in four days.

The two front men demonstrated just why they are one of the most feared combinations in the top flight - the hard-working Phillips unselfishly chipped up a centre for Quinn to head home in the 75th minute, and two minutes later the big Irishman nodded a priceless equaliser.

And in a total turn-around the indomitable Quinn was a whisker away from a story-book hat-trick as he started, and almost finished, a move which tore the Charlton defence asunder.

Fans who seemed to be harbouring the simmering discontent of a lynch-mob were suddenly transformed into a delirious throng which cheered every kick as one, inspiring Sunderland to a furious finish which might so easily have produced a winning goal.

Earlier, however, there was little sign of any change from the lacklustre performances which have disappointed so often this season, with missed chances and untidy passing blighting the play.

And it was another game that stand-in goalkeeper Jurgen Macho would want to forget after being found wanting for both Charlton goals.

The Austrian missed a right wing corner in the tenth minute and Shaun Bartlett scored with a header which struck Quinn on the way to goal, though the touch was so slight it could hardly be considered a contributory factor.

Macho, who was at fault for Spurs' opening goal in the 2-1 home defeat in midweek, was rooted to his line in the 61st minute when Steve Brown met a long throw-in to back-flick his header into the far corner of the net.

Things indeed looked bleak for Sunderland, who had seen England midfielder Gavin McCann squander a couple of chances, though goalkeeper Dean Kiely had to be credited with a good save from the first.

The new-look strike-force of Quinn, Phillips and French international Lilian Laslandes had not hit it off, and Sunderland's three-man midfield found themselves struggling against Charlton's extra pair of legs.

But, to their credit, Sunderland kept going and Phillips in particular looked threatening, going close with an overhead kick in the 55th minute after stabbing an earlier shot just wide.

But just as the home pressure was building up Charlton came away to increase their lead with a soft goal.

Instead of taking the wind out of Sunderland's sails, however, they reacted furiously and the fans, sensing a fightback, gave them every encouragement and were rewarded with two thrilling goals from Quinn.

The Charlton defence was at panic stations, and Argentinian crowd favourite Julio Arca was tantalisingly close to claiming a goal with a header which flashed just wide as the relentless home pressure continued in a rousing finale.

Both teams felt they had the chances to win the game, but at the end of a totally unpredictable encounter a draw was perhaps the fairest result.

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley felt that Quinn made all the difference.

He said: "No-one up here needs me to tell them that Sunderland are a totally different proposition with Quinn in the side - he is a major asset and when he is around he gives the team a definite lift."

Sunderland manager Peter Reid said: "It was a really good game - some of our football was excellent and our determination was terrific.

"When Charlton got as second I feared the worst but our players responded really well and in the end we could have won the game.

"It was fantastic entertainment but it might put Alan Curbishley and me in the looney bin!"

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