IT was an evening to pay tribute to Sunderland's FA Cup heroes of the past, but by the end of the night supporters were left in no doubt about the importance of a result which could shape the club's future.

The relegation fight is far from won, yet in coming from behind with ten men to claim a deserved point it could prove to be a vital result when the season comes to a close on May 19.

Sunderland were unable to record the victory which would have given them significant breathing space above the relegation zone, but at least they know they will not be in the bottom three regardless of the outcome of Wigan's home date with Swansea tonight.

Forty years on from the glorious FA Cup final at Wembley, Paolo Di Canio had been hoping to mark the occasion by sealing a win which would have gone a long way to preserving Premier League status.

As things stand Sunderland, who face Southampton on Wearside on Sunday, still have work to do. In responding to the sending off of full-back Craig Gardner, dismissed for a studs first challenge just after half an hour, with the sort of character to make Di Canio proud, his team should have the belief to move forward now.

By the time Gardner, who joins Stephane Sessegnon in being banned for the remaining games, had been red carded Sunderland had already fallen behind to a ninth-minute goal from Jon Walters.

Sunderland, who only had Adam Johnson causing real problems, looked short of ideas and striker Danny Graham had only touched the ball seven times in the entire opening half.

But then the Black Cats found a new sense of urgency after the restart to breathe new life in to their relegation fight. Even with ten men, they managed to find an equaliser through John O'Shea just after the hour and could have actually celebrated a winner.

Before the game the captain of the May 5, 1973 team, Bobby Kerr, walked out on to the turf beforehand and the fans showed how proud they still are of Bob Stokoe's team.

There have been many relegation and promotions in the decades since for Sunderland, but with an increase in television money again next season there has never been a greater need to stay in the top-flight.

So when the footage of the FA Cup triumph over Leeds was shown on the giant screens at either end of the game - and the first whistle had been blown last night - it was all about Di Canio's crop of red and white shirts.

Following the 6-1 drubbing to Aston Villa a week earlier which plunged Sunderland back in to deep relegation trouble, the Italian boss had to think of ways of coping without creative spark Sessegnon.

On this occasion it was Johnson playing centrally behind lone striker Graham and he did find space to exploit in the first half before Gardner's dismissal forced a rethink, but only after Stoke had gained the initiative.

With Adam's first corner, Sunderland failed to deal with it. Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet stayed on his line for a delivery in to his six-yard box and Walters was on hand to threaten.

Walters' initial header bounced back to him off the face of Graham and his second attempt was to instinctively flick the rebound high in to the roof of Mignolet's net.

It was exactly the start Sunderland did not want. With Jack Colback recalled but in an unfamiliar wing role, there was always going to be greater emphasis placed on the attacking output of Johnson and James McClean.

Had it not been for Johnson's occasional bursts, Sunderland would not have created anything of note in the first half and even then his runs led to wayward shooting.

Just when frustrations had grown with every stray pass or poor touch, things got worse. Gardner dived in to try to tackle near the touchline and rather than take the ball his right boot's studs landed high on Adam's ankle.

The red card was warranted. Not only did Sunderland have to find a way of clawing a way back in to this game with ten men, Di Canio will have to find a way of coping without him and Sessegnon for the run-in.

All preparations had suddenly been deemed pointless. Colback had to revert to right-back, while Johnson picked up the right-wing role he is more familiar with, leaving Graham with no link to midfield behind him.

In a strange way the dismissal helped Sunderland. Rather than playing players out of position there was greater shape to the way the team played. Too many long balls for Graham, however, were routinely picked out by Robert Huth and Ryan Shawcross.

Had it not been for Johnson, Sunderland would not have got anywhere near to the Asmir Begovic in the Stoke goal. And the former Middlesbrough winger's mazy run beyond three defenders and shot in to the keeper from distance deserved more as the hour approached.

When Begovic was beaten shortly after by a O'Shea shot on the turn from a crowded box after Danny Rose had won a corner, former Sunderland midfielder Dean Whitehead was on the line to clear.

That encouraged Sunderland – whose goalkeeper Mignolet had to be alert to counter-attacks like those which saw N'Zonzi and Whitehead shots saved – to be more attack-minded.

And once Larsson's corner was flicked on by Whitehead's head and turned through the legs of Begovic by O'Shea's outstretched leg in the 63nd minute, the equaliser gave Sunderland and the fans reason for lift off.

They could have won it. When Graham and Rose interchanged on the edge of the Stoke box with ten minutes remaining, the latter's lowly driven shot shaved the foot of the post and went to safety. A point, though, could still prove crucial.