Blackburn Rovers held Sunderland to a 1-1 draw which prevented the Black Cats going level on points with Barclays Women’s Championship leaders Birmingham City.
Sunderland were ahead at Ewood Park inside 20 minutes, Jessie Stapleton turning in a Katie Kitching corner at the back post.
Rovers got back on level terms in the second half, Emma Taylor heading home from Jemima Dahou’s corner.
With five minutes to go Sunderland nearly grabbed a winner but Poppy Soper tipped Eleanor Dale’s header onto the crossbar, with the rebound being cleared.
Sunderland move up one place to third but have played one more match than those around them, Rovers remain eighth but with a game in hand on most others.
