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Stan was forced to make one change, McGregor in for the suspended Arthur, but he also made another putting Chadwick in from the start. On the bench with Delroy back at the Reebok, Stan reverted to his four subs routine.
Playing in the away VK Clarets kit, the visitors were slow starters, the outfield players taking fully ten minutes to get going. In the mean time, Sunderland could have had early goals, but for an alert and impressive Jensen, who was to thwart the Black Cats repeatedly not just in this period, but throughout the game.
Proctor saw a good header well saved by a flying Beast and Kyle saw his header go just wide of the far post, with Clarets defenders too far apart from the midfielders, allowing too much space between the respective defensive lines.
Chadwick, who had a largely disappointing game, was tripped, for which Williams was rightly booked, began to get the Clarets going and it was Blake who had the first pop at goal, a long range effort being well saved by Poom on the quarter hour.
Clarets so nearly took the lead on twenty minutes. The visitors were to enjoy many openings through the Sunderland back four in the first half, most of which were straight down the middle of the pitch, the craft and neat footwork of Blake evident during his impressive first half display. Blake's well positioned shot from just inside the area came back off the inside of the far post and with Poom scrambling, Chaplow, then Moore tried to force home the loose ball before the locals could breathe again with the ball eventually being cleared.
A minute on and Blake was trying his luck again, this time from distance, this time Poom saved it, but now Clarets were matching their hosts whose main threat was left winger Downing, who gave West a torrid time in the opening half.
Healy had a long range effort comfortably saved by Jensen, before May brought the best out of Poom, his goal bound glancing header superbly tipping the ball over the bar. McGregor should have done better from the resulting corner, than head straight at the keeper when unmarked, as Clarets enjoyed a succession of good chances.
Everyone in the supporting Claret ranks thought the opening goal had arrived on the half hour and quite how Moore's shot came back out from the inside of the post is anyone's guess. Clearly the locals enjoyed the fact that it came out trying to match the atmosphere coming from the premature celebrations in the visiting ranks.
Two minutes later and following good work from Blake, then Little, Chadwick was through one on one, but Poom saved well, getting down low to tip the shot around the post.
It was therefore against the run of play that the Black Cats scored and once again Stan will be questioning his defensive assets. May should have intercepted a cross field pass from Proctor, but misjudged it, Jensen stayed at home and this allowed Kyle to nip in and steer a low shot past Jensen's left hand, ending Sunderland's goal drought of three games and only their second goal scoring game from their last eight.
Little wonder the locals have forgotten how to celebrate and get behind their team in their spasmodic bouts of chants. Clarets tried to reply before the break, the best they could muster though was a Robbie Blake free kick right on the edge of the area after Chadwick had been unceremoniously upended.
Into the second and with yet more litter swirling in the unending wind, Clarets struggled at times in just clearing their lines, such was the strength of the wind. The second half was less exciting than the first, Sunderland worsened as the game progressed, but could have nicked it in injury time after some late lapses in concentration by May and Little.
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On the hour, it looked like 2-0 and but for an alert linesman flagging offside Proctor's tap in from a rebound from Jensen's magnificent and quite amazing save saw him at full stretch tipping the ball on to the underside of the cross bar from Healy's powerful shot, had looked like it was a save in vain.
Cue more premature celebrations, this time enjoyed by the visiting hoards. The wind was by now spoiling the game and as a consequence it became a little scrappy, despite both teams looking to play the ball on the surface wherever possible. A disappointing Chadwick was replaced with twenty five minutes remaining with Weller bolstering the centre midfield area.
Clarets were struggling to find a way through to Poom after McCarthy's half time reshuffle and the good approach play was not exposing Poom as it had in the first half. This was though until the deserved equaliser arrived with twenty minutes remaining.
Weller made a good run down the right, his low cross was attemptedly scrambled home by Chaplow, who, in colliding with Poom, saw the ball break for Moore who scrambled home a pea roller of a shot that just made it over the line, the wind almost keeping the ball out.
Jubilant scenes all around as 2,500 celebrated. McCarthy immediately sent on Stewart and Thirlwell in place of Proctor and Quinn, Stan having done similar with a replacement of West with Roche.
Next up for the good goalkeeping award was Poom, equal to Blake's shot after a trademark run across the eighteen yard line ended in a shot destined for the top right corner.
For the final quarter hour it was more the officials rather than the wind that spoiled the game. So step forwards Mr Barker with your little yellow flag and explain your interpretation of the offside rule. Moore was given offside when clean through the back four, yet despite having started the run from his own half its difficult to understand the decision given by our little new customer of SpecSavers.
Five minutes from time an he's at it again, this time saving Poom's blushes, as both Chaplow and Moore charged down a delayed clearance from the 'keeper.
A minute on and the keeper could do no more than clutch thin air, Moore's sweetly struck half volley whistling over the angle as Clarets looked for two bonus points.
With a minute of normal time remaining Jensen got in his customary error, but May was on hand to coolly clear the keeper's misjudgement, when mis-controlling a ball off his chest with danger lurking.
Into the two minutes of injury time and Clarets almost undid all their hard work with two defensive gaffs. Quite who Little thought he was passing to is anyone's guess, his suicidal square ball found only an unmarked Stewart and the embarrassed bendy man could be very thankful to Camara for a great last ditch tackle.
Into the very last minute, Blake needlessly conceded possession, May was badly at fault misjudging a header as the ball bounced over his head, and Jensen was at his acrobatic best, tipping Stewart's sweetly struck volley over his left angle to earn his side a valuable point.
The game ended with Clarets now building their confidence levels, whilst for Sunderland this was a third consecutive home draw as their disgruntled fans made their point when trudging away.
Att: 29,852.
Star Gazer
Dean West. Struggled all afternoon to understand which way Middlesboro's loan man Downing was going to go past him. Though left exposed by Little's poor defensive cover, Fred should have done much better than he did to cut out Sunderland's main threat.
Beer Money
Seventeen quid for concessions! Ha' way the prices you robbing people of Wearside, which presumably contribute to the excessive policing. The blue light escort given to the departing coach convoy looked more like George W Bush had been to the game.
Star Geezer
Brian Jensen. Much maligned for his consistency of error making and poor decision taking, this was not one of those days. A string of good saves in the first half were eclipsed by two simply magnificent saves in the second half from Healy and Stewart. This was a performance to savour.
Champagne Tastes
Clarets can always rise to the big stadia and this was no exception, with neat football being played at times, despite the windy conditions. Here too for once, was a compact, well organised midfield that closed down well when defending and supported the attack whenever possible. There were no doubt some very tired legs soaking in the bath after the game.