LATEST UPDATE:Dan Ballard’s injury worries are allayed by Michael Beale following the Boro draw.

Concerns that Dan Ballard may have sustained a major injury in the last moments of Sunderland’s 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough have been downplayed by Michael Beckett.

Ballard had landed awkwardly in the last minutes at the Riverside, and it looked like he was having shoulder problems.

Although he was clearly uncomfortable as he left the field following the final whistle, Beale believes the injury is not serious and anticipates him being available for the home game against Plymouth Argyle the following weekend.

“Dan is no southern softie, so he’ll be alright!” the Sunderland manager remarked. Speaking to him there, it appears that he has just fallen awkwardly after taking a knock. Please don’t come back to me if that turns out not to be the case. I believe that by this time next week, he will be OK.

Although Beale was pleased with his team’s fierce retaliation on Teesside, he acknowledges that he was deeply sorry that another set-piece goal was let away.

“We’ve just talked about it in the dressing room, but it’s fair to say they (Middlesbrough) started the second half much better than us,” he stated. That is not a good enough beginning.

After then, we give up on a set-play. Although we’re not very fortunate with the ricochet, we need to improve since it’s occurring too frequently for us in important games right now.