MARTIN O'NEILL paid tribute to comeback king Fraizer Campbell after the Sunderland striker came off the bench to deny Middlesbrough an FA Cup shock at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland were staring a cup exit in the eye after falling behind to Barry Robson’s first-half goal before O’Neill sent Campbell on for Conor Wickham at the start of the second half.
The gamble worked as Campbell latched on to James McClean’s through ball to slot past Boro goalkeeper Danny Coyne for the equaliser.
What made the goal more remarkable was the fact Campbell has not played for Sunderland since the 1-0 win over Manchester City at the Stadium of Light back in August 2010.
O’Neill said: “I am really delighted for Fraizer. He has done so well to come back from the injuries he has sustained.
“He took his brilliantly, even though it was probably only his second or third touch.
“Physio Dave Galley has been in the business for a long time and he says Fraizer might be the best he has witnessed in terms of never being down.
“Because of the seriousness of the injuries, there were times when you thought that might be it, but he has knuckled down every time and came back stronger.
“He’s been coming in every day with a smile on his face, and he lifts everyone at the football club because of his attitude. It was great for him to have something to celebrate.
“He gave us a bit of extra energy which we seemed to lack in the first half. Connor was a little bit sore. It was a difficult afternoon for the young lad.
“We made the substitution and it was more tactical than anything else, even though he was complaining of a bit of soreness. I am sure he will come back from this fine.
“I am delighted we are still in the cup. I thought we played very sloppily in the first half.
“Middlesbrough got a foothold in the game and by the time the goal came around, they deserved to be in front. We showed a lot more urgency in the second half, epitomised by the performance of Fraizer, and in the end we deserved to still be in the hat.
“I suppose a draw was probably a fair result.”
