Will Buckley has claimed that Sunderland can take plenty of encouragement from their 1-1 draw with Stoke City.

The Black Cats dropped into the Premier League relegation zone on Saturday after coming away from the Britannia Stadium with a share of the spoils.

Despite their future in the top flight being far from certain, Buckley is hopeful that the team can boost their survival chances with another positive result against Southampton at the Stadium of Light this weekend.

"I think we gave everything and we came out with a good point in the end," the winger told the club's official website. "We looked more dangerous going forward and that is what we need to do now to put the pressure on other teams.

"We have to be satisfied with a point especially coming away from home, but on another day we could have had three of four. The supporters travelled down to Stoke City in numbers and it really showed, so hopefully we can take that into this weekend's home game against Southampton."

Sunderland were thrashed 8-0 by Southampton when the sides met at St Mary's Stadium back in October.